Background The Top Officials Exercise (TOPOFF) is a congressionally mandated biennial cycle of seminars, planning events, and national exercises designed to strengthen the Unites States’ capacity to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from large scale terrorist attacks. Every two years, the cycle culminates in an exercise that simulates a coordinated terrorist attack involving biological, chemical, radiological, or weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The exercises seek to draw the participation of top officials and key personnel from all levels of government who have domestic response and consequence management roles and responsibilities in actual terrorist events. The Department of Homeland…
Author: John Greenewald
Background This document had been released by the CIA, and was heavily redacted. In November of 2016, I requested a Mandatory Declassified Review (MDR) of the document, to see if more could be declassified. In December, I received a less redacted version of the record. Although it is not a lengthy document, it did succeed in getting just a bit more un-redacted, and into the public view. Document Archive Soviet Plans To Have Plane Carrying Pow’s From Hanoi Overly (sic) Laos, And To Attempt To Limit Access Of American Officials In Rangoon, 22 September 1972 [3 Pages, 1.1MB] https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/cia/EOM-2017-00069.pdf Previously…
Background According to their website, the mission statement of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is: “Enforcing the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States of America. Bringing to justice organizations – including those with ties to terrorism – and their principal members, who are involved in the growing, manufacture or distribution of controlled substances. Supporting the diligent efforts of the Special Agents who play an essential and exclusive role in contributing to our nation’s war on drugs and terrorism. Working to dismantle drug trafficking organizations, prosecute drug traffickers and destroy the financial infrastructure of these organizations. As the…
Background Voice of America (VOA) provides trusted and objective news and information in 45 languages to a measured weekly audience of more than 236.6 million people around the world. For nearly 75 years, VOA journalists have told American stories and supplied content that many people cannot get locally: objective news and information about the US, their region and the world. VOA uses the devices and platforms target markets use to connect audiences on five continents with the people, thoughts and institutions that make America unique. Behind the scenes, VOA maintains a small list of prewritten obituaries, for politicians and world…
Background I was curious how much some agencies spent, in regards to advertising on social networks. So, in October of 2016, I filed to the Social Security Administration (SSA) for records pertaining to this, and was surprised to see a huge influx in spending in 2015 compared to the other years released. According to the SSA’s website: “Social Security has provided financial protection for our nation’s people for over 80 years. Chances are, you either receive Social Security benefits or know someone who does. With retirement, disability, and survivors benefits, Social Security is one of the most successful anti-poverty programs…