Congress to Examine UFOs in Hearing Demanding Transparency

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing on October 3, 2023, focusing on unidentified flying objects (UFOs), officially referred to as unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). The session aims to promote government transparency regarding UAP disclosures and protect whistleblowers who come forward with vital information.

Scheduled for 10 a.m. ET, the hearing will be led by Representative Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican from Florida and chairwoman of the committee’s Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets. In a statement, Ms. Luna stressed the public’s right to access information about UAP sightings, acquisitions, and examinations, asserting that these phenomena may pose a potential threat to safety. She stated, “The American people deserve maximum transparency from the federal government on sightings, acquisitions, and examinations of UAPs.”

During the hearing, testimony will be provided by military veterans and a journalist well-versed in the topic. Notable witnesses include Air Force veterans Jeffrey Nuccetelli and Dylan Borland, along with Navy veteran Alexandro Wiggins, all of whom claim to have witnessed UAPs. Additionally, journalist George Knapp, a recognized figure in the UFO disclosure community and frequent contributor to the radio show “Coast to Coast AM,” is scheduled to speak.

Investigating Government Response and Whistleblower Protections

The hearing will scrutinize the effectiveness of the Department of Defense’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office, which was established to investigate unidentified aerial phenomena. This session follows a previous hearing held in fall 2022, during which witnesses alleged that the government was withholding information related to documented UFO cases spanning decades.

In a highly publicized hearing earlier in 2023, three military veterans testified before another subcommittee, emphasizing the need for a secure process for pilots to report UAP sightings without fear of stigma. One key witness, retired Major David Grusch, a former member of the UAP Task Force who later became a whistleblower, made significant claims about the government’s possession of “non-human” biological matter from crash sites and reverse-engineered technology. Grusch indicated that he could only provide detailed information in a secure classified setting known as a SCIF.

The recent years have seen a significant push from both whistleblowers and some Congressional members to encourage the government to disclose what it knows about UAPs. While UAPs are often linked to theories about extraterrestrial life, the emergence of sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles, such as drones, has introduced a tangible national security aspect to these sightings.

Public Interest and Recent Sightings

The discourse around UAPs has gained mainstream acceptance, partly due to the Pentagon’s release of videos captured by military pilots. One notable example is the 2004 “Tic Tac” video, which depicts a Navy pilot observing a white, oval-shaped object approximately 40 feet long executing maneuvers that defy known technology.

A more recent series of sightings made headlines in December 2024, when drones were frequently observed over the night sky in New Jersey. Locals speculated on social media about the nature of these drones, suggesting possibilities ranging from surveillance activities to UFO encounters. During a House subcommittee hearing that month, Robert Wheeler, assistant director of the FBI’s critical incident response group, confirmed that the FBI was collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security and local law enforcement on investigations into the sightings.

Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey expressed the state’s serious approach to the sightings, stating, “The minute you get eyes on them, they go dark. We’re obviously most concerned about sensitive targets and critical infrastructure.”

The upcoming hearing is expected to shed light on the government’s handling of UAP information and the implications for national security, as well as bolster protections for those who come forward with disclosures. As public interest in this topic continues to grow, the demand for transparency from the federal government remains at the forefront of discussions surrounding unidentified aerial phenomena.