Tennessee Congressman Warns Classified UAP Briefings Could Shake Public Faith

Rep. Tim Burchett says he has been briefed on sensitive information that would leave Americans 'unglued'

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:06am

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A dynamic, abstract painting of a glowing, unidentified aerial object repeated in overlapping, fractured geometric shapes, conveying a sense of motion and mystery.As political pressure mounts for greater transparency on unidentified aerial phenomena, the government's reluctance to fully disclose what it knows continues to fuel public speculation.Washington Today

Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett told Newsmax that classified briefings he has received on unidentified aerial phenomena contain information the American public would find deeply unsettling. Burchett said if the public heard what he heard, 'this country would have come unglued' and citizens 'would demand answers.' The congressman is calling on President Trump to release all the information.

Why it matters

Burchett's comments highlight the growing political pressure on the government to be more transparent about unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) investigations. Some lawmakers believe the public has a right to know what the government knows, while others argue that secrecy is necessary to protect sensitive intelligence collection methods.

The details

Burchett said he has been briefed by 'just about every alphabet agency' and that if the information was released, 'you would stay up - you'd be up at night worrying about or thinking about this stuff.' He added that the people who know the details 'are dying or disappearing.' Burchett has been one of the most persistent advocates for UAP disclosure in Congress, introducing legislation to require declassification of federal documents related to UAP.

  • Burchett received a classified briefing approximately two weeks prior to his Newsmax appearance.
  • In May 2024, Burchett introduced the UAP Transparency Act.
  • In 2023, Burchett headed an effort to establish a UAP caucus in the House.

The players

Rep. Tim Burchett

A Tennessee congressman who has been one of the most persistent advocates for UAP disclosure in Congress.

President Trump

The president who Burchett is calling on to release all information on UAPs and 'alien and extraterrestrial life.'

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna

A Florida congresswoman who chairs the House Oversight Committee's Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets and has requested 46 specific UAP videos from the Defense Department.

Rep. Eric Burlison

A Missouri congressman and member of the UAP subcommittee who offered a more grounded explanation for why some UAP footage remains classified.

Pete Hegseth

The Defense Secretary to whom Rep. Luna wrote requesting UAP videos.

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What they’re saying

“If they would release the things that I've seen, you would stay up - you'd be up at night worrying about or thinking about this stuff.”

— Rep. Tim Burchett, Tennessee Congressman

“This bill isn't all about finding little green men or flying saucers. It's about forcing the Pentagon and federal agencies to be transparent with the American people.”

— Rep. Tim Burchett, Tennessee Congressman

“We cannot protect our airspace if our best-trained observers are silenced.”

— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, Chair, House Oversight Committee's Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets

“A lot of these videos that they're keeping classified have been captured on technology that we don't want our adversaries to know that we have the ability to capture.”

— Rep. Eric Burlison, Missouri Congressman and UAP Subcommittee Member

What’s next

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has set an April 14, 2026 deadline for the Defense Department to provide 46 specific UAP videos. This deadline represents a concrete near-term test of whether the executive branch's disclosure commitments will produce actual documents or lead to further delays.

The takeaway

The growing political pressure for greater transparency on unidentified aerial phenomena reflects a deep public desire to understand the nature of these mysterious objects. However, the debate continues over how much information the government should release without compromising sensitive intelligence collection methods.