UAP disclosure refers to the process by which governments — primarily the United States — officially acknowledge, investigate, and release information about Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), previously referred to as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). This article provides a factual overview of how disclosure has unfolded through the public record.
The Shift From Denial to Acknowledgment
For decades following the closure of Project Blue Book in 1969, the official U.S. government position was that UAP posed no threat to national security and did not warrant further investigation. That position changed publicly in December 2017, when the New York Times reported that the Department of Defense had operated a covert UAP investigation program called the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) from 2007 to 2012, funded at $22 million through the initiative of then-Senator Harry Reid.
Key Institutional Developments
Following the 2017 revelations, the U.S. government established successive official bodies to investigate UAP:
UAP Task Force (2020): The Department of Defense established the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force under the Office of Naval Intelligence in August 2020, following a Senate Intelligence Committee directive. Its mandate was to standardize collection and reporting on UAP encounters by military personnel.
AARO (2022-present): The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office was established in July 2022 under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. AARO’s mandate, expanded through NDAA provisions, includes both current UAP investigation and a historical review of U.S. government involvement with UAP dating back to 1945.
Legislative Action
Congress has been a primary driver of disclosure through legislation. The FY2024 NDAA (signed December 2023) included modified UAP disclosure provisions. While the original Schumer-Rounds UAP Disclosure Act — which proposed eminent domain over private UAP materials and a review board with subpoena power — was significantly altered during conference, the final law created a UAP Records Collection with a presumption of disclosure.
Multiple members of Congress have continued pushing for expanded disclosure through hearings, letters to the Department of Defense, and new legislative proposals. The bipartisan UAP Caucus, with over 40 members as of 2026, has coordinated congressional oversight efforts.
Executive Action
On February 19, 2026, President Trump announced a directive ordering the Pentagon and federal agencies to identify and release government files related to “alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena, and unidentified flying objects.” Defense Secretary Hegseth confirmed the Pentagon was “eager” to comply. This was followed by the registration of the aliens.gov domain on March 18, 2026, and a full public portal launch in April 2026.
Congressional Hearings
Three major public congressional hearings have addressed UAP directly. On July 26, 2023, the House Oversight Committee heard testimony from David Grusch, Ryan Graves, and David Fravor. Grusch alleged under oath that the U.S. government possesses materials and “non-human biologics” from UAP crash retrievals. Graves testified about systemic safety reporting failures. Fravor described his 2004 encounter with the “Tic Tac” object during USS Nimitz carrier group operations.
In November 2024, a House Oversight Subcommittee hearing addressed allegations of a program called “Immaculate Constellation” and broader transparency concerns. In September 2025, the House Oversight Task Force hearing “Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection” addressed AARO’s Historical Record Report criticisms, whistleblower protection gaps, and classification concerns.
What Disclosure Does and Does Not Mean
Official disclosure of UAP as a phenomenon does not inherently confirm non-human intelligence origins. The U.S. government has acknowledged that certain objects observed by military personnel remain unexplained after analysis, and that these objects represent potential national security and flight safety concerns. The question of origin remains the subject of ongoing investigation and significant public debate.
NHI News Network reports the data and statements as they exist in the public record. We document the process of disclosure as it unfolds through official channels, congressional action, and verified testimony.