- The Trump administration launches public portal for UAP records
- Agencies began releasing previously undisclosed files
- The review effort covers decades of UAP records
The Department of War has published a first tranche of previously undisclosed files related to unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP, on a new public portal called the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters, or PURSUE.
The move is part of a broader Trump administration initiative aimed at declassifying and releasing government files related to UAPs, UFOs and extraterrestrial-related investigations, the DOW said Friday, noting that the records will be published on a rolling basis.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Energy, NASA, FBI and the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, or AARO, are involved in the effort.
Table of Contents
What Prompted the UAP Transparency Initiative?
The release follows a February directive from President Donald Trump.
“Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant departments and agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena, and unidentified flying objects,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
According to the DOW, reviewing decades of records requires coordination among dozens of agencies, with many materials existing only in paper form. The department noted that the archived materials largely involve unresolved cases in which the government has not reached definitive conclusions about the nature of the observed phenomena.
What Did Government Leaders Say About the Release?
Top federal government officials weighed in on the news.
“These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation, and it’s time the American people see it for themselves,” said Secretary of War and Wash100 Award winner Pete Hegseth.
Supporting this long-term initiative, DNI and fellow Wash100 awardee Tulsi Gabbard said ODNI is coordinating intelligence declassification activities with DOW to “ensure a careful, comprehensive, and unprecedented review of our holdings.”
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, another Wash100 awardee, has also expressed support for the initiative.
“At NASA, our job is to bring the brightest minds and most advanced scientific instruments to bear, follow the data, and share what we learn,” Isaacman stated.
How Does This Build on Prior Pentagon UAP Efforts?
The release expands on earlier Pentagon transparency initiatives tied to AARO, which was established in 2022 to investigate anomalous objects observed across air, sea, space and transmedium environments.
In 2023, the DOW launched a public AARO website containing declassified videos, photos and reporting resources related to resolved UAP incidents.
That same year, the DOW and ODNI disclosed that AARO had received 274 UAP reports between August 2022 and April 2023, with some incidents involving unusual maneuverability or high-speed movement, though AARO said none posed confirmed threats to military or civilian aircraft.
Related Articles
The Space Force unveils new career development model for officers The framework emphasizes broad mission experience before specialization The guidance aligns workforce strategy with future space warfighting demands The U.S. Space Force has introduced a new officer career development framework intended to shape how guardians build leadership, operational and technical experience throughout their careers as the service prepares for increasingly contested space operations. The framework and companion narrative document provide guidance for assignment planning, mentorship and professional development, the Space Force said Friday. As the Space Force continues to refine how it prepares for future operations; related workforce, technology and
Kirsten Davies identified Project Arcadia as a major Five Eyes digital modernization effort. The initiative aims to improve coalition data sharing and operational coordination. Five Eyes leaders will continue digital transformation discussions at the next summit in Sydney. Kirsten Davies, chief information officer at the Department of War and a 2026 Wash100 awardee, highlighted Project Arcadia during the Five Eyes Combined Digital Leadership Summit at the Pentagon, describing the initiative as a key element of coalition digital transformation efforts among allied countries, DOW reported Friday. What Is Project Arcadia? Davies said Project Arcadia is intended to create a shared digital
Brian Hughes has assumed the role of senior director of launch operations at NASA. Hughes will oversee launch operations at Kennedy Space Center and Wallops Flight Facility while supporting coordination across NASA’s spaceport infrastructure. The 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30 will feature panel discussions about AI, commercial space relay and more. NASA has appointed former chief of staff Brian Hughes as senior director of launch operations at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. As NASA expands launch operations and spaceport activity under new leadership, government and industry stakeholders continue to