Senator Gillibrand Issues Bipartisan Statement Praising Pentagon PURSUE Release

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), co-sponsor of the UAP Disclosure Act of 2025 and a key architect of AARO's expanded legislative mandate, issued a statement praising the Pentagon's 8 May PURSUE file release. Gillibrand framed the release as vindication of her legislative work on UAP transparency through the FY2026 NDAA, which required expanded AARO briefings to Congress. The statement is notable as a bipartisan endorsement: Gillibrand chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee yet publicly backed a disclosure initiative led by the Trump administration. She also flagged that the FY2026 NDAA bundles UAP reporting provisions under 'UAS' and 'drones' categories, complicating oversight. Gillibrand continues to oppose UAP Caucus calls to replace AARO with an FBI-led UAP unit.