Defense Secretary Tasked with Releasing Files on UFOs

Hegseth says he never expected to be in charge of declassifying information on extraterrestrial life.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been tasked by President Donald Trump to identify and release government files related to the existence of aliens and unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Hegseth expressed surprise at the assignment, saying he never expected to be in charge of such a complex and interesting matter. The president's directive comes amid renewed public interest in the possibility of extraterrestrial life, fueled by recent comments from former President Barack Obama and testimony from a former Air Force intelligence officer.

Why it matters

The potential release of classified government files on UFOs and aliens could shed new light on a topic that has long been shrouded in secrecy and conspiracy theories. This move by the Trump administration signals a shift towards greater transparency on the issue, which could have significant implications for our understanding of the universe and humanity's place in it.

The details

President Trump has ordered Hegseth and other federal agencies to begin the process of identifying and releasing government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Hegseth said people were already working on the task by Monday, and that they would be in "full compliance" with the executive order. However, there is no clear timeline on how long it will take to release the relevant files.

  • On February 25, 2026, President Donald Trump directed Hegseth and other federal agencies to begin the process of identifying and releasing government files related to aliens and UFOs.
  • By Monday, February 27, 2026, Hegseth said people were already working on the task.

The players

Pete Hegseth

The current U.S. Secretary of Defense, who has been tasked by President Trump to identify and release government files related to aliens and UFOs.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who recently directed Hegseth and other federal agencies to begin the process of declassifying information on extraterrestrial life and unidentified flying objects.

Barack Obama

The former President of the United States, who recently suggested in a podcast interview that aliens are real, though he said he did not see evidence of extraterrestrial contact during his presidency.

David Grusch

A retired U.S. Air Force intelligence officer who testified to Congress in 2023 that the U.S. government has been concealing a program that retrieves and reverse engineers unidentified flying objects.

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What they’re saying

“We'll see. I get to do the review and find out along with you.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense (13newsnow.com)

What’s next

The Pentagon has promised more transparency on the topic of UFOs, and the newly created All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) will be tasked with collecting reports of all military UFO encounters.

The takeaway

The potential release of classified government files on UFOs and aliens could have significant implications for our understanding of the universe and humanity's place in it. This move by the Trump administration signals a shift towards greater transparency on a topic that has long been shrouded in secrecy and conspiracy theories.