--- title: "CIA Will Neither Confirm Nor Deny Records on 3I/ATLAS" description: "A ufologist's Freedom of Information Act inquiry about documents related to interstellar object 3I/ATLAS was mysteriously shut down." date: "2026-01-07" modified: "2026-01-07" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/space/cia-neither-confirm-deny-records-3i-atlas" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Future Society" - "Off-World" - "Space" --- # CIA Will Neither Confirm Nor Deny Records on 3I/ATLAS ![A ufologist's Freedom of Information Act inquiry about documents related to interstellar object 3I/ATLAS was mysteriously shut down.]() *Getty / Futurism* Ever since it was first spotted hurtling through the solar system, Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb has maintained that there's a chance mysterious interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is a technological object sent by an extraterrestrial civilization. He's meticulously catalogued what he claims are anomalous qualities of the object, which most of his peers believe is a natural comet from a different star system, from its [unusually large suspected size]() to a [rotation axis]() almost perfectly perpendicular to the Sun to a "[fine-tuned]()" trajectory that brought it within spitting distance of Mars and Jupiter. Loeb has also [been angered]() at NASA's continued insistence that 3I/ATLAS is a natural comet — which, again, is the opinion of most experts — accusing them of "[arrogance]()" and ignoring his documented anomalies. He also [accused NASA of withholding observations]() by its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter while 3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to the Red Planet in October, due to last year's government shutdown. (The images were [eventually released]() in late November.) NASA isn't the government institution that Loeb is taking aim at. In a [new blog post](), the astronomer pointed out that ufologist John Greenewald Jr.'s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) inquiry for "any assessments, reports, or communications maintained by the Central Intelligence Agency referencing 3I/ATLAS" had been pointedly shut down. The CIA [told Greenewald]() in a formal response to his FOIA that it will "neither confirm nor deny the existence or nonexistence of records" related to the object — a non-answer that could be interpreted in strikingly different ways. Greenewald is a well-known name in UFO circles. He founded The Black Vault, an enormous archive of millions of pages of government documents he's uncovered via FOIA inquiries, including declassified [videos of what the Pentagon describes as unidentified anomalous phenomena](). Loeb says he found the answer — and the notable level of secrecy — "surprising," given NASA's conclusion that "3I/ATLAS is definitely a comet of natural origin." "If this conclusion was clear all along to everyone within government and academia — as NASA officials presented the case, then why would the CIA treat the possible existence of records dealing with a natural comet as sensitive enough to be classified?" he asked rhetorically. Loeb suggested the government might have investigated whether 3I/ATLAS could pose a threat to national security, perhaps over the possibility of a "black swan event," which has [fascinated]() the researcher. If scientists do eventually uncover a probe sent to us by an alien civilization, it could pose a major threat to humanity, Loeb has asserted. He has [previously hypothesized]() that the object could be "akin to a Trojan Horse, where a technological object masquerades as a natural comet." Discussions about such a possibility may have been "hidden from public view in order to prevent panic from taking hold for no good reason," Loeb pondered, especially considering a "black swan event is still regarded as highly unlikely." However, this theory presupposes that the CIA even has anything to hide from the public to begin with. After all, in its statement to Greenewald, it didn't rule out the "nonexistence of records." Besides, as [more data rolls in](), Loeb's far-fetched theory that 3I/ATLAS is a piece of technology continues to be challenged. In other words, what would there even to hide if the object does turn out to be a non-threatening lump of ice? Either way, Loeb isn't ready to call it just yet. He has advocated for taking a closer look once it [makes its closest approach to Jupiter in March](). "Unless we check, we might never know if this swan is white or black," he concluded in his blog. **More on 3I/ATLAS:** [*Scientists Announce Results After Scanning 3I/ATLAS for Alien Signals*]() ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()