Trump Orders Release of Government UFO Files: ‘The American People Deserve Answers’
Reflecto News | Breaking News | Government Transparency
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has formally directed federal agencies, including the Department of War, the FBI, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), to begin the process of identifying and releasing all government files related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and potential extraterrestrial life, Fox News has learned .
The directive, issued on Friday, May 8, 2026, represents the most sweeping government transparency initiative on the subject in U.S. history, promising to declassify decades of internal documents, videos, and intelligence assessments .
“The American people deserve answers to decades-old questions regarding potential non-human activity. Enough is enough of the secrecy and cover-ups.”
— Senior Trump administration official, speaking to Fox News
The move follows “tremendous interest” from the public and months of congressional pressure, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers demanding greater transparency. The administration’s push for disclosure has drawn bipartisan support, with officials noting that the American people have waited long enough for answers .
📂 What the Release Will Include
Under the directive, federal agencies will be required to:
- Catalog all government records related to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and potential extraterrestrial life
- Review classified documents for declassification and public release
- Create a centralized public portal for accessing declassified UFO files
- Provide regular updates on declassification progress to Congress
The Department of War — which has been briefing the President on UFO-related matters since early 2025 — will serve as the coordinating agency for the declassification effort .
🔎 ‘Complete and Maximum Transparency’
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior administration official told Fox News that the public should expect “multiple tranches” of documents and videos to be released on a rolling basis.
“The American people deserve answers to decades-old questions regarding potential non-human activity,” the official said. “Enough is enough of the secrecy and cover-ups. This administration is going to be different.”
The official noted that the new policy is designed to provide the “maximum transparency possible” while protecting legitimate national security interests. “If there is non-human intelligence out there, the American people have a right to know,” the official added .
🏛️ Bipartisan Congressional Support
The administration’s push for disclosure has drawn uncommon bipartisan support in a deeply divided Washington.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who has led the charge for UFO transparency in the House, praised the move.
“We’ve been fighting for this for years. The government has been hiding this information from the American people for decades. I’m proud that President Trump is finally taking the steps necessary to give the people the answers they deserve.”
— Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.)
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also expressed support, noting that “the American people have a right to know what their government knows about unexplained aerial phenomena.”
📜 Historical Context: Decades of Secrecy
The U.S. government has officially studied UFOs since at least 1947, when the Air Force launched Project Sign — the first of a series of official investigations into “flying saucers.” Project Sign was followed by Project Grudge and then Project Blue Book, which officially ended in 1969 after concluding that no UFO sighting represented a threat to national security .
The CIA, FBI, and other intelligence agencies have continued to collect and analyze UAP reports, much of which remains classified .
In recent years, a series of leaked videos — including the now-famous “Tic Tac” footage (2004) and “Gimbal” and “Go Fast” videos (2015) — have fueled public interest in the subject . The Pentagon officially acknowledged the videos as authentic in 2020 and created the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to investigate UAP incidents .
📊 What’s Already Known
The Pentagon’s AARO office has already cataloged hundreds of unexplained UAP incidents, according to its 2024 report. Key findings from the report include:
| Finding | Details |
|---|---|
| Total UAP reports | Over 800 incidents cataloged (1980–2024) |
| Unresolved cases | Approximately 200 remain unexplained |
| Key features | Objects capable of hypersonic speed and sudden acceleration |
| No evidence found | No confirmed extraterrestrial technology identified (according to AARO) |
However, the AARO report specifically noted that its conclusions applied only to the data it had been permitted to review. The Pentagon’s report concluded that there is no evidence that any UAP sighting represents extraterrestrial technology — a conclusion that transparency advocates have long contested .
The new presidential directive is expected to release documents that the Pentagon’s report may not have had access to, possibly including materials from the CIA and other intelligence agencies with equities in the UAP issue .
🛸 ‘What the Hell Is Going On?’
President Trump first signaled his intention to release UFO files earlier this week during a meeting with NASA astronauts, telling reporters, “We’re going to be releasing a lot of things that we haven’t. I think some of it’s going to be very interesting to people” .
Today’s formal directive follows through on that promise. As the president himself put it on Truth Social: “The people can decide for themselves, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? Have Fun and Enjoy!”
📋 Key Takeaways for Reflecto News Readers
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| The Directive | President Trump orders federal agencies to identify and release UFO/extraterrestrial files |
| Involved Agencies | Department of War, FBI, CIA, and other intelligence and defense agencies |
| Public Portal | A centralized website — reportedly “aliens.gov” — will host declassified materials |
| Timing | “Multiple tranches” to be released on a rolling basis; first batch expected in coming weeks |
| Bipartisan Support | Both Democrats and Republicans have praised the transparency initiative |
| White House Message | “The American people deserve answers to decades-old questions” |
| Trump’s Comment | “What the hell is going on? Have Fun and Enjoy!” |
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