In a recent congressional hearing, David Grusch, a former military intelligence officer turned whistleblower, highlighted that Congress lacks information regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) commonly referred to as UFOs. Grusch, who served for 14 years in the Air Force and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, testified before the House Oversight Committee’s national security subcommittee. He was joined by two former fighter pilots who shared their firsthand experiences with UAPs.
Grusch had participated in two Pentagon task forces investigating UAPs until earlier this year. During the hearing, he revealed that he was made aware of a multi-decade program focused on UAP crash retrieval and reverse-engineering, as part of his examination of classified programs. He noted that despite his request, access to these programs was denied. Grusch also accused the military of misappropriating funds to shield these operations from congressional oversight. He mentioned interviewing officials who possessed direct knowledge of aircraft with nonhuman origins, and he indicated that certain biologics were retrieved from some of these craft.
Lawmakers from both parties questioned how to proceed with investigating these extraordinary claims, indicating a growing willingness to demand greater transparency from the executive branch on the subject.
The issue of UAPs has garnered significant attention in recent years, especially following the release of videos depicting encounters with seemingly nondescript objects exhibiting high-speed movements without apparent propulsion methods. The Pentagon’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), established by Congress to examine these incidents, has looked into approximately 800 UAP reports as of May. While many cases have been attributed to benign causes, several remain unexplained. Lawmakers argue that the military possesses more information about these phenomena than what has been shared with Congress.
Sue Gough, a spokesperson for AARO, stated that the office has not found verifiable information to support claims of past or current programs involving extraterrestrial materials. She emphasized the department’s commitment to timely and comprehensive reporting to Congress.
Grusch’s testimony was complemented by Ryan Graves, a former Navy pilot, and David Fravor, a fighter pilot. All three witnesses asserted that current reporting mechanisms inadequately address UAP encounters and that a stigma persists among pilots and officials who seek greater transparency about their experiences.
The hearing reflects the increasing demand for transparency from the executive branch regarding UAPs. Legislators are exploring ways to compel disclosure, including proposing amendments to defense spending bills requiring executive branch agencies to provide UAP records for review, presuming they should be disclosed unless agencies can justify classification.
The issue of UAPs continues to captivate lawmakers and the public, sparking discussions about the nature and origin of these enigmatic aerial phenomena.
