BW 12.13.24
| Tracking # |
F-2025-05994 |
| Submitted | Dec. 13, 2024 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Robert Skvarla, Jr.
Dear FOIA Officer:
You are receiving this correspondence as a request under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. subsection 552. I am requesting the following:
Copies of all Department of State (DOS) records, documents, and communications responsive to Project Brain Wave, aka Operation Brain Wave. This was a program proposed and implemented by the DOS between 1950 and 1955. An undated memorandum sent by someone within the DOS to the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council states: "10. 'Project Brain Wave'. The Department of State is developing and has reported to the Board a project designed to stimulate display of indigenous anti-Communist sentiment in the countries of Western Europe."
This memorandum is number 57 in a group of memos declassified by the DOS and can be found on page 109 of a document made accessible at: https://2001-2009.state.gov/documents/organization/96783.pdf.
After this memorandum was sent, someone associated with the Office of International Information and Educational Exchange Programs, Bureau of Public Affairs sent or received an undated draft memorandum, written at some point between January 1, 1951 and December 31, 1952, titled "Implementation of Operation Brain Wave". This document, attached, states as follows: "I recommend that steps be taken to form a private foundation or organization with an appropriate title, which would in effect be usable as a direct arm of the State Department, which could be used to channel ideas to, and which would on its own initiative promote projects consistent with our objectives in a given country; an organization so eminently respectable that, in the conduct of projects, even though supported financially by the Department of State, the hand of the Department need not appear at all. Such organization could recruit and send people to Europe for example to get Operation Brain Wave underway."
This draft memorandum can be found at the National Archives and Record Administration, Archives II, College Park, Maryland, and its catalog information can be found at: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/3857396.
I am asking you waive any fees associated with this request. I am a member of the news media. My bylines, which include Unicorn Riot, Covert Action Magazine, and the Geopolitical Economy Report, can be found in both print and electronic publications, and I am sending this request in coordination with Muckrock, an award-winning and nationally-recognized news organization. Please take note of the Office of Management and Budget guidelines published March 27, 1987 (52 FR 10012) that include electronic publications and other nontraditional publishers as representatives of the news media.
A fee waiver is appropriate in situations where "disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the government, and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester,” 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(iii). Information about Project/Operation Brain Wave has been declassified previously, as shown in the two examples provided above, and additional information about this program might help clarify the role of the DOS in managing tensions during the Cold War. The attached draft memo which references the creation of a "private foundation or organization" later identifies this entity as a "front organization." During the Cold War, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) established such an organization, the Congress for Cultural Freedom, and it carried out many of the same functions described in the draft memo. Clarifying any overlap between DOS and CIA activities can help historians, journalists, and lay scholars in better contextualizing the Cold War for the public.
This request is not being made for commercial purposes.
All documents will be provided to the general public without charge.
In the event that there are fees, I am willing to pay up to $100. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as the statute requires. If access to the records I am requesting will take longer, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.
If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.
Sincerely,
Robert Skvarla, Jr.
From: U.S. Department of State
Dear Robert Skvarla:
This acknowledges you information access request to the U.S. Department of State. Your request number is F-2025-05994. You will find additional information such as the date your request was received and your request status in your electronic portal page under this case number.
If you requested expedited processing, a fee waiver, or if unusual circumstances apply, you will receive additional correspondence from us.
For further assistance or to discuss any aspect of your request, you may contact our FOIA Requester Service Center or our FOIA Public Liaison via email to FOIAStatus@state.gov or by telephone at (202) 261-8484. (mailto:FOIAStatus@state.gov)
Regards,
Office of Information Access Liaison
Information Access Programs
U.S. Department of State
From: U.S. Department of State
Dear Robert Skvarla,
The status of your FOIA request #F-2025-05994 has been updated to the following status 'Received'. To learn more, you may log into the DoS FOIA Portal via the Application URL at https://pal.foia.state.gov.
If that status is "On Hold", please review the email you received and provide the requested information. If you did not receive an email, please contact the FOIA Requester Service Center via email at FOIAStatus@state.gov. (mailto:FOIAStatus@state.gov)
If that status is "Closed" or "Documents Delivered", then the Department's response will be emailed or mailed (via US Postal Service). Please check your email account (including junk/spam mail) for the Department's response OR allow 7 to 10 business days to receive the Department's response by US Postal Service mail.
Regards,
U.S. Department of State
From: U.S. Department of State
Reference No: F-2025-05994
Request Description: Dear Mr. Skvarla, copies of all Department of State (DOS) records, documents, and communicationsresponsive to Project Brain Wave, aka Operation Brain Wave. This was a programproposed and implemented by the DOS between 1950 and 1955. An undatedmemorandum sent by someone within the DOS to the Executive Secretary of theNational Security Council states: "10. 'Project Brain Wave'. The Department of State isdeveloping and has reported to the Board a project designed to stimulate display ofindigenous anti-Communist sentiment in the countries of Western Europe."(Date Range for Record Search: From 1/1/2013 To 12/14/2024)
Please see the attached letter regarding your U.S. Department of State FOIA request referenced above. Should you have any difficulties opening the letter please email FOIAstatus@state.gov with your request number in the subject line.
Sincerely,
Alexandra
(for) Ennelle Debrosse Supervisory Government Information Specialist FOIA Case Processing Office
From: U.S. Department of State
Reference No: F-2025-05994
Request Description: Dear Mr. Skvarla, copies of all Department of State (DOS) records, documents, and communicationsresponsive to Project Brain Wave, aka Operation Brain Wave. This was a programproposed and implemented by the DOS between 1950 and 1955. An undatedmemorandum sent by someone within the DOS to the Executive Secretary of theNational Security Council states: "10. 'Project Brain Wave'. The Department of State isdeveloping and has reported to the Board a project designed to stimulate display ofindigenous anti-Communist sentiment in the countries of Western Europe."(Date Range for Record Search: From 1/1/2013 To 12/14/2024)
Please see the attached letter regarding your U.S. Department of State FOIA request referenced above. Should you have any difficulties opening the letter please email FOIAstatus@state.gov with your request number in the subject line.
Sincerely,
Alexandra
(for) Ennelle Debrosse Supervisory Government Information Specialist FOIA Case Processing Office
From: U.S. Department of State
Dear Robert Skvarla,
The status of your FOIA request #F-2025-05994 has been updated to the following status 'In Process'. To learn more, you may log into the DoS FOIA Portal via the Application URL at https://pal.foia.state.gov.
If that status is "On Hold", please review the email you received and provide the requested information. If you did not receive an email, please contact the FOIA Requester Service Center via email at FOIAStatus@state.gov. (mailto:FOIAStatus@state.gov)
If that status is "Closed" or "Documents Delivered", then the Department's response will be emailed or mailed (via US Postal Service). Please check your email account (including junk/spam mail) for the Department's response OR allow 7 to 10 business days to receive the Department's response by US Postal Service mail.
Regards,
U.S. Department of State
From: U.S. Department of State
Dear Robert Skvarla,
The status of your FOIA request #F-2025-05994 has been updated to the following status 'Closed'. To learn more, you may log into the DoS FOIA Portal via the Application URL at https://pal.foia.state.gov.
If that status is "On Hold", please review the email you received and provide the requested information. If you did not receive an email, please contact the FOIA Requester Service Center via email at FOIAStatus@state.gov. (mailto:FOIAStatus@state.gov)
If that status is "Closed" or "Documents Delivered", then the Department's response will be emailed or mailed (via US Postal Service). Please check your email account (including junk/spam mail) for the Department's response OR allow 7 to 10 business days to receive the Department's response by US Postal Service mail.
Regards,
U.S. Department of State