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10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Harry Reid.md
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@ -9,20 +9,54 @@ summary: "Senator Reid's interest in the UAP topic was sparked by his position a
born: 1939-12-02
died: 2021-12-28
location: "Searchlight, Nevada, USA"
aliases:
- Harry Mason Reid
- Senator Reid
relations:
- type: represented
with: "[[Robert Bigelow]]"
role: "Nevada constituent; Bigelow and Bigelow companies contributed 10,800 dollars to Friends for Harry Reid and 10,000 dollars to the Searchlight Leadership Fund, 1998 to 2010"
start: 1998
fn: 6
updated: 2026-10-02
---
[[Harry Reid]] was a United States Senator from Nevada who served as the Senate Majority Leader. He was a pivotal figure in the establishment and funding of the [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program]] (AATIP) and a staunch supporter of the [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena]] (UAP) disclosure movement until his death in 2021.[^1]
[[Harry Reid]] was a [[United States]] Senator from [[Nevada]] who served as the Senate Majority Leader. He was a pivotal figure in the establishment and funding of the [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program]] (AATIP) and a staunch supporter of the [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena]] (UAP) disclosure movement until his death in 2021.[^1]
### Interest in UAP
Senator Reid's interest in the UAP topic was sparked by his position as the senator for Nevada, the home of the highly classified [[Area 51]] military installation. This, combined with his friendship with aerospace magnate and paranormal researcher [[Robert Bigelow]], led him to take the issue seriously. He was known on Capitol Hill as a "bulldog in a pit of vipers," and his determination was crucial in overcoming the stigma and bureaucratic inertia surrounding the UAP issue.[^1]
Senator Reid's interest in the UAP topic was sparked by his position as the senator for Nevada, the home of the highly classified [[Area 51]] military installation. This, combined with his friendship with aerospace magnate and paranormal researcher [[Robert Bigelow]], led him to take the issue seriously. He was known on [[Capitol Hill]] as a "bulldog in a pit of vipers," and his determination was crucial in overcoming the stigma and bureaucratic inertia surrounding the UAP issue.[^1]
### Funding for AATIP
In 2007, Senator Reid, along with Senators [[Ted Stevens]] of Alaska and [[Daniel Inouye]] of Hawaii, secured $22 million in funding for the [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program]] (AAWSAP), the precursor to [[AATIP]]. These three men controlled congressional spending for "black budget" Pentagon programs, and their bipartisan support was essential for the program's creation. Reid continued to be a champion for the program, later securing an additional $10 million in funding for AATIP, though the funds were ultimately diverted to another program.[^1]
Elizondo wrote that in 2007 Senator Reid, along with Senators [[Ted Stevens]] of [[Alaska]] and [[Daniel Inouye]] of [[Hawaii]], secured $22 million in funding for the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AAWSAP), the precursor to AATIP. These three men controlled congressional spending for "black budget" [[Pentagon]] programs, and their bipartisan support was essential for the program's creation. Reid continued to be a champion for the program, later securing an additional $10 million in funding for AATIP, though the funds were ultimately diverted to another program.[^1]
### Support for Disclosure
Even after leaving the Senate, Reid remained a powerful advocate for UAP disclosure. He publicly confirmed his role in funding AATIP and vouched for the credibility of [[Luis Elizondo]] after his resignation from the Pentagon. He provided crucial support for the 2017 New York Times article that broke the story of AATIP, and he continued to brief members of Congress and the media on the importance of the UAP issue. His steadfast support was a key factor in the passage of the historic UAP legislation in the 2021 and 2022 National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs).[^1]
Even after leaving the Senate, Reid remained a powerful advocate for UAP disclosure. He publicly confirmed his role in funding AATIP and vouched for the credibility of [[Luis Elizondo]] after his resignation from the Pentagon. He provided crucial support for the 2017 [[New York Times]] article that broke the story of AATIP, and he continued to brief members of [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] and the media on the importance of the UAP issue. His steadfast support was a key factor in the passage of the historic UAP legislation in the 2021 and 2022 [[National Defense Authorization Act|National Defense Authorization Acts]] (NDAAs).[^1]
### Letter to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, June 24, 2009
On Senate Majority Leader letterhead dated June 24, 2009, Reid wrote to Deputy Secretary of Defense [[William Lynn]]: "Beginning this past September, the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] has mandated that the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] assess far-term foreign advanced aerospace threats to the United States," with a scope "from the present out to forty years and beyond." The letter calls the effort the "Advanced Aerospace Threat and Identification Program (AAITP)," states that "much progress has been made with the identification of several highly sensitive, unconventional aerospace-related findings," and asks for assistance "establishing a Restricted Special-Access-Program (SAP) with a Bigoted Access List for specific portions of the AATIP." It lists as protectable "the methodology used to identify, acquire, study, and engineer the advanced technologies," "protection of industry partnerships and participation," and "application and engineering," describing "associated exotic technologies" in "quantum mechanics, nuclear science, electromagnetic theory, gravitics, and thermodynamics." The contact named for questions is [[Robert T. Herbert|Bob Herbert]] of Reid's staff.[^2]
Attachment 1 to the letter gives the proposed nickname "Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP)," program length "FY09 to FY13 (Preliminary)," program funding "FY09 O&M, FY10-FY13 TBD," and SAP category "Intelligence, DoD Acquisition." The "FY 10 Preliminary Bigoted List of Government Personnel" names Lynn, Reid, Daniel Inouye and Robert T. Herbert of the U.S. Senate, followed by redacted entries including Navy, [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] and [[Under Secretary of Defense]] for Intelligence personnel; a separate "FY 10 Preliminary Bigoted List of Contractor Personnel funded under the AATIP" has three entries, the first reading "Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies LLC (BAASS)" and the other two "BAASS (CTR)."[^2]
### Appropriation language in DIA papers
Talking points in the packet prepared for the Deputy Secretary of Defense's November 17, 2009 meeting with Reid state that "Senators Reid and Inouye co-sponsored a $10M earmark in the July 2008 supplemental" and that "a $12M earmark has been allocated to support the program in FY2010." Neither entry names Stevens.[^3]
### Responses
DIA's talking points for a Reid visit to the DIA Director (May 4, 2009) state that Reid "has a deep interest in the potential threat posed by unconventional aerospace technologies" and that "the continued support and guidance of Senator Reid and Senator Inouye is crucial."[^4] DIA records that a review it completed in November 2009 found "insufficient grounds existed to classify the program, invoke an ACCM, or establish a restricted SAP"; that in November 2009 Lynn and the memorandum's author (name redacted) met Reid, and "we determined the reports were of limited value to DIA" while suggesting the project "could be transitioned to another agency or component better suited to oversee the project."[^5] The talking points in the packet prepared for the Deputy Secretary's November 17, 2009 meeting with Reid record that DIA "learned of counter-intelligence concerns with [[Bigelow Aerospace]]" in August 2008; see the page for [[Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies]].[^3]
### Contributions from Robert Bigelow and Bigelow companies
[[OpenFEC]] itemized receipts show contributions of 2,000 dollars (two entries of 1,000 dollars, August 7, 1998), 4,000 dollars (two entries of 2,000 dollars, June 12, 2003) and 4,800 dollars (two entries of 2,400 dollars, June 8, 2010) from Robert Bigelow of [[Las Vegas]] to [[Friends for Harry Reid]], the Senate campaign committee. The [[Searchlight Leadership Fund]], registered to Reid as sponsor, received 5,000 dollars from Bigelow on June 13, 2003 and 5,000 dollars from [[Bigelow Development Aerospace]] LLC on June 30, 2004. The [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]] received 28,500 dollars from Bigelow on September 28, 2007 and 28,500 dollars on June 30, 2008.[^6]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Elizondo, Luis. *Imminent*. William Morrow, 2024.
[^2]: Senator Harry Reid to Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn III, June 24, 2009, with Attachment 1, released by DIA to The Black Vault. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/20090624_Reid_to_DEPSECDEF_ref_AAITP_in_SAP.pdf
[^3]: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, final packet for the Deputy Secretary of Defense's November 17, 2009 meeting with Senator Reid. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/09117-Final_Packet_Presented_to_DepSecDef.pdf
[^4]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Talking Paper, "Senator Reid Visit to Director, DIA," May 4, 2009. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/DR_Reid_Mtg_May09.pdf
[^5]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Info Memo U-10-2552CE to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, 2010. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/U-10-2552CE-IM-ATL.pdf
[^6]: Federal Election Commission, OpenFEC API, schedule A; Searchlight Leadership Fund is committee C00327395 (sponsor candidate S6NV00028, Harry Reid) and Friends for Harry Reid committee C00204370. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/