Congressman Urges Trump to Declassify UFO Files

Republican says public 'can handle' the truth about aliens and unidentified anomalous phenomena.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 1:53am

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An avant-garde painting of a flying saucer-shaped object in overlapping, geometric waves of deep blue, violet, and silver, conveying a sense of motion and mystery around the topic of unidentified aerial phenomena.A fractured, abstract depiction of a UFO hints at the government's long-rumored secrets about extraterrestrial phenomena.Washington Today

Rep. Tim Burchett, a Republican, is calling on former President Trump to follow through on his pledge to declassify government records related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life. Burchett says he has been briefed by 'just about every alphabet agency' and has seen 'pretty wild' information, though he has been vague about the details. The lawmaker previously led House hearings on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), including testimony from a former intelligence official who claimed the US has long had a program to recover and study crashed non-human craft - a claim the government denies.

Why it matters

The issue of UFOs and extraterrestrial life has long been a source of fascination and speculation, with many believing the government is withholding information from the public. Burchett's calls for disclosure come as the Biden administration has taken steps like registering the domain Aliens.gov, raising hopes that more information could soon be released.

The details

In a recent appearance on Fox News, Burchett urged Trump to follow through on his pledge to declassify records on aliens and unidentified anomalous phenomena. Burchett said he has been briefed by 'just about every alphabet agency' and called what he's seen 'pretty wild,' though he has been vague about the specifics. The lawmaker has previously led House hearings on UAPs, including testimony from former intelligence official David Grusch, who claimed the US has long had a program to recover and study crashed non-human craft - a claim the government denies.

  • In February 2023, former President Trump promised in a Truth Social post to order federal departments to locate and disclose records tied to extraterrestrial life and UFOs.
  • The White House has recently registered the domain Aliens.gov, raising hopes that more information could soon be released.

The players

Rep. Tim Burchett

A Republican congressman who has called for the government to declassify information about UFOs and extraterrestrial life.

Former President Donald Trump

Promised in February 2023 to order federal departments to disclose records related to extraterrestrial life and UFOs.

David Grusch

A former intelligence official who testified before Congress that the US has long had a program to recover and study crashed non-human craft, a claim the government denies.

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What they’re saying

“We can handle it.”

— Rep. Tim Burchett, Republican Congressman

“We've never been closer to disclosure.”

— Unidentified advocate

What’s next

The Biden administration has taken steps like registering the domain Aliens.gov, raising hopes that more information about UFOs and extraterrestrial life could soon be released. However, it remains to be seen if former President Trump will follow through on his pledge to declassify government records on the topic.

The takeaway

The issue of UFOs and extraterrestrial life continues to be a source of fascination and speculation, with some lawmakers like Rep. Tim Burchett pushing for more transparency from the government. While the Biden administration has taken some steps, the public is still waiting to see if any major disclosures will be made.