Mark S. Zaid

Legal Career and National Security Practice

Mark S. Zaid is an American attorney based in Washington, D.C., specializing in national security law, freedom of speech constitutional claims, and government accountability. Born in 1967 in Manhasset, New York, Zaid earned his B.S. from the University of Rochester (1989) and his J.D. from Albany Law School of Union University (1992). He has maintained an active legal practice representing federal employees, intelligence officers, and whistleblowers in disputes with government agencies, as well as members of the media in First Amendment and FOIA litigation.

Whistleblower Protection Advocacy

Zaid's prominence in whistleblower protection began with his 1998 founding of the James Madison Project, a civil liberties organization dedicated to reducing government secrecy through Freedom of Information Act advocacy and whistleblower support. The organization became instrumental in advancing transparency in national security matters. In 2019, Zaid gained widespread recognition when he led the legal team representing the intelligence community whistleblower whose complaint about President Trump's Ukraine call triggered the first presidential impeachment inquiry. This case demonstrated his role as a central figure in protecting government insiders who report wrongdoing.

Whistleblower Aid and UAP Disclosure

In September 2017, Zaid co-founded Whistleblower Aid with former U.S. State Department official John Tye. The organization provides free legal assistance to government and private sector employees, veterans, and whistleblowers who wish to safely report lawbreaking without incurring personal legal liability. Whistleblower Aid has become increasingly relevant to the UAP disclosure movement, as multiple intelligence community insiders—including military and aerospace officials—have sought legal protection while coming forward with accounts of non-human technology recovery and classified aerospace programs. Zaid's dual role as both Whistleblower Aid's co-founder and practicing attorney has positioned him as a critical advocate for those revealing classified information about anomalous phenomena.

Notable Legal Achievements

Beyond his whistleblower advocacy, Zaid has secured major settlements and injunctions. He obtained a landmark $2.7 billion settlement against Libya for the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing, and successfully obtained a federal court injunction halting the Department of Defense's mandatory anthrax vaccination program for two years. His litigation portfolio demonstrates expertise in constitutional claims against powerful government agencies—experience directly transferable to UAP whistleblower protection.

Role in Disclosure Era

During the disclosure era (2017–present), Zaid has positioned himself as a crucial legal guardian for government insiders stepping forward about classified UAP programs. As the broader intelligence community confronts congressional and public pressure for transparency regarding anomalous aerial phenomena, his organizations provide the legal infrastructure necessary for whistleblowers to testify, litigate, and disclose information while safeguarding their careers and security clearances. He teaches as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University's Advanced Academic Programs, further extending his influence on policy and civil liberties education.