Trump Orders UFO File Release

- The U.S. government's formal investigation into UFOs dates back to Project Blue Book, which ran from 1952 to 1969 and investigated 12,618 sightings, with 701 remaining unidentified. The project concluded that no UFO reported was ever a threat to national security, and found no evidence of extraterrestrial vehicles or advanced technology. - In recent years, the official terminology has shifted from Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) to encompass objects that may not be airborne or may be transmedium (moving between air and water). In July 2022, the Pentagon established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to track UAPs in the sky, underwater, and in space. - A 2022 report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) cataloged 510 UAP reports. Of the 366 new sightings in that report, 163 were identified as balloons or "balloon-like entities," 26 as drones, and six as airborne clutter, leaving 171 UAPs as "uncharacterized and unattributed." - The most recent consolidated report on UAPs, covering the period up to June 1, 2024, noted a total of 757 new reports. While many cases are resolved as prosaic objects like balloons, birds, or unmanned aerial systems, the report states that many other cases remain unresolved, and to date, AARO has found no evidence of extraterrestrial activity or technology. - Key figures in pushing for greater transparency include former Pentagon official Christopher Mellon and former military intelligence officer Luis Elizondo. Mellon was instrumental in providing three declassified Navy videos to the New York Times, which significantly increased public and congressional interest in the topic. - Public belief that some UFOs are alien spacecraft has been growing. A 2021 Gallup poll found that 41% of U.S. adults believe some UFOs have been alien spacecraft, an increase from 33% in 2019. A 2022 YouGov poll found that 34% of Americans believe UFOs are likely alien ships or life forms. - Former President Barack Obama has stated that upon taking office he inquired about aliens. He later clarified that while the universe's vastness suggests life could exist elsewhere, he saw no evidence during his presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with Earth. He did confirm there is "footage and records of objects in the skies that we don't know exactly what they are." - Many UAP reports originate from military personnel and are often located in restricted or sensitive airspace, which raises concerns about flight safety or potential surveillance by adversaries. A RAND Corporation review of over 100,000 public UAP reports found that sightings were more likely to occur near military operations areas.