Trump Administration Releases UFO Files

on May 08, 2026

After decades of interest, the United States' files pertaining to UFOs have been released. This photo was reportedly taken by the U.S. Air Force on Dec. 30, 1969. (Photo credit: National Archives)

Demand For Files On UFOs Reached Fever Pitch As Scientists With UFO Intel Have Mysteriously Died Or Disappeared

Speaking at a Turning Point USA event on April 17, President Donald Trump provided an update on the work of the Department of War and other involved agencies which he tasked with releasing the nation’s UFO files.

Saying they had found some “very interesting documents,” Trump said the first batch of UFO files was set to be released “very, very soon.”

This was being done in compliance with an order Trump gave on Feb. 19, which was detailed in a post he made on Truth Social.

There, he said the files the government would be releasing were on the “highly complex, but extremely interesting and important” subject of “alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to” the matter.

Now, on Friday, May 8, the highly anticipated files have been released.

Prior to the Trump administration’s release of files pertaining to UFOs, the National Archives had several files online regarding UFOs for the public to inspect, but most were from before the 21st century.

Releasing a statement on the newly disclosed files, Sec. of war Pete Hegseth said:

“The Department of War is in lockstep with President Trump to bring unprecedented transparency regarding our government’s understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it’s time the American people see it for themselves. This release of declassified documents demonstrates the Trump Administration’s earnest commitment to unprecedented transparency.”

View the first batch of UFO documents, released in the morning of May 8, here, at https://www.war.gov/UFO/.

Noting in its preface to the release of the files that “the materials archived here are unresolved cases,” the Department of War goes on to define what that means, noting it means “the government is unable to make a definitive determination on the nature of the observed phenomena.”

Further, the Department of War says it will “continue to conduct separate reporting on resolved UAP cases, as mandated by statute,” adding, “Under this Administration, we will pursue the truth and share our findings with the American people.”

Stating that this is the “first in what will be an ongoing joint declassification and release effort,” Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said:

“The American people have long sought transparency about the government’s knowledge of unidentified anomalous phenomena. Under President Trump’s leadership, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is actively coordinating the Intelligence Community’s declassification efforts with the Department of War to ensure a careful, comprehensive, and unprecedented review of our holdings to provide the American people with maximum transparency.”

According to Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-FL, more files — including more videos that were specifically requested by Congress — will be released in the next 30 days.

Of the upcoming releases of additional files, Rep. Tim Burchett, R-TN, said on X, formerly Twitter, “Remember the Feds told us these files didn’t exist and [Trump] stood up to the deep state. The 1st drop will be big but in comparison to what is coming they will be a drop in the bucket. I would say ‘Holy Crap’ is coming.”

Remember the Feds told us these files didn’t exist and @realDonaldTrump stood up to the deep state. The 1st drop will be big but in comparison to what is coming they will be a drop in the bucket. I would say “Holy Crap” is coming. https://t.co/3xe0vyslJa
— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) May 8, 2026

Later on May 8, President Trump released a statement on Truth Social about the UFO files, noting that “previous administrations have failed to be transparent on this subject.”

He then wrote, “With these new Documents and Videos, the people can decide for themselves, “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?” Have Fun and Enjoy!”

See his full post, here:

*President Trump posted about the release of the first batch of UFO files on May 8. (Image: Donald Trump / Truth Social)*

More On The Files

The initial release of UFO documents on May 8 is varying in scope and media fornats, including documents, photographs, and video.

Among the files are photos and documents from several NASA missions, including Gemini 7 in 1965, Apollo 12 in 1969, and Apollo 17 in 1972.

Listen to audio of Astronaut Frank Borman during the 1965 Gemini VII mission tell NASA ground control that he saw a “bogey” as well as other interesting phenomena, here.

Gemini VII was the 12th crewed American mission into space, and it involved orbiting the Earth for 14 days, from Dec. 4, 1965, to Dec. 18, 1965.

There are also many files that are more recent in nature, including several videos taken between 2022 and 2026.

Here’s a file documenting sightings of UAPs near Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as far back as 1951.

The release of government files of this nature has become a staple of Trump’s second term as president. Other files released by his administration include documents on:

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy;
The assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy;
The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.;
The disappearance of Amelia Earhart and her navigator; and
The Epstein files.

For several years, Rep. Tim Burchett, R-TN, has been one of the leading voices in Congress calling for the disclosure of information on what people have been seeing in the skies.

Yesterday, an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience featuring Burchett found the congressman sharing that he was going to be briefed on the imminent release of these files on Thursday, May 7, before they were released to the public.

On May 8, Burchett posted on X, thanking President Trump for keeping his word.

Thank you @realDonaldTrump for keeping your word to me on #UFO #UAP transparency. This is a great start! https://t.co/6hTKvq2TBz
— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) May 8, 2026

Watch Rep. Burchett on the Joe Rogan podcast, here:

At Least 10 Officials With Access To Classified UFO Data Have Gone Missing Or Died Since 2023

The release of these files come as pressure mounts for the government to formally investigate the mysterious deaths and disappearances of at least 10 scientists and military personnel.

Purportedly connecting all of these individuals is their access to classified intel on UFOs.

Responding to claims of the possible connection that links the deaths and disappearances of these officials, Trump said on April 16, “Well, I hope it’s random, but we’re gonna know in the next week and a half.”

He added that it’s “pretty serious stuff,” and then said, “Hopefully, I don’t know, coincidence — whatever you want to call it. Some of them were very important people and we’re gonna look at it.”

Watch Trump speak on the situation, here:

BREAKING: President Trump vows to look into the 10 scientists who have gone missing or turned up dead:

"I hope it's random, but we're going to know in the next week and a half."

"I just left a meeting on that subject."

"Pretty serious stuff… Some of them were very important… pic.twitter.com/VMgeZyayXl
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 16, 2026

The day before, on April 15, the same question was posed by Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy to White House Press Sec. Karoline Leavitt.

Responding, Leavitt said she had “seen the report,” but admitted she hadn’t communicated with relevant agencies about it.

Leavitt then stated that she will pursue an answer, adding, “If true, of course, that’s definitely something this government and administration would deem worth looking into.”

Presented in chronological order, here is the full list of the missing scientists and military personnel at the center of this conspiracy, as initially listed by the International Business Times and expounded upon with more recent details:

Michael David Hicks (died on July 30, 2023) — research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory;
Frank Maiwald (died on July 4, 2024) — principal researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory;
Anthony Chavez (missing since May 8, 2025) — former employee of Los Alamos National Laboratory;
Monica Reza (missing since June 22, 2025) — director of Materials Processing at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory;
Melissa Casias (missing since June 26, 2025) — administrative worker for Los Alamos National Laboratory;
Joshua LeBlanc (died on July 22, 2025) — NASA nuclear engineer;
Steven Garcia (missing since Aug. 28, 2025) — a government contractor with the Kansas City National Security Campus in Albuquerque;
Nuno Loureiro (died on Dec. 16, 2025) — director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center;
Carl Grillmair (died on Feb. 16, 2026) — Caltech astrophysicist;
William “Neil” McCasland (missing since Feb. 27, 2026) — retired U.S. Air Force general; and
Jason Thomas (died on March 17, 2026) —pharmaceutical researcher at Novartis.