Trump Administration Releases UFO Files

By Grant Bromley

on May 08, 2026 • Updated Jun 12, 2026

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After decades of interest, the United States' files pertaining to UFOs have been released.
After decades of interest, the United States' files pertaining to UFOs have been released in three installments, with more on the way. 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

After decades of questions, the U.S. government is releasing its files pertaining to UFOs and reports of extraterrestrial life.

On May 8, the Department of War released the first batch of its highly anticipated UFO files.

Then, on Friday, May 22, a second batch of files was released, including some dramatic new video of action taken against unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) over American skies.

Now, on June 12, a third batch has been released.

The release of these files is in compliance with an order President Donald 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.

On May 8, the highly anticipated first batch of files was released, with the Department of War reporting that it received over a billion visits to the files.

Included in the second batch of files is video from 2023 of a U.S. Air Force plane shooting down a UAP over Lake Huron, Michigan.

See that dramatic raw footage, here.

The date this video was taken, Feb. 12, 2023, comes just a few days after the conclusion of the “Chinese spy balloon” incident, on Feb. 4, 2023, according to the Biden administration.

View All Of The UFO Files

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/.

View the second batch of UFO documents, released on May 22, here, at https://www.war.gov/UFO/?releaseDate=Release+02#records

View the third batch of UFO documents, released on June 12, here: https://www.war.gov/UFO/?releaseDate=Release+03&release=03

As of June 12, the Department of War reports that the files website has been visited 1.7 billion times since May 8.

The release of the second and third batches of files is in keeping with what Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-FL, said should be anticipated following the first batch: more videos and documents.

These, she said, are in response to matters specifically requested by Congress.

Already, the Department of War is teasing a fourth release, saying, “The Department of War and our agency partners are actively working on the next release of UAP files.”

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.”

Writing on the release of the first batch, 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.”

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.”

Back 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)

RELATED: Kacey Musgraves Shares Creepy “UFO” Encounter On Flight Home To Nashville

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:

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.

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

Youtube video

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:

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.

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About the Author

Grant Bromley

Howdy, I’m Grant, a multimedia storyteller and lover of the arts. Whether it’s Copland’s ballet Rodeo or Peckinpah’s iconic Western Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, I have an appreciation for works that engage with the American mythos. Covering news, I help tell the stories that define our shared tomorrow.

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