Trump, Schumer Find Rare Common Ground on Releasing UFO Files

The former president and current Senate minority leader agree on exposing the truth about extraterrestrial life.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, two of Washington's most politically opposed figures, have found common ground on the issue of releasing government files related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life. Trump ordered the Secretary of War to begin the process of identifying and releasing these files, while Schumer has long pushed for more transparency on the topic, picking up the cause from his predecessor, the late Senator Harry Reid.

Why it matters

The push to declassify government files on UFOs and extraterrestrial life is a rare bipartisan effort in an otherwise deeply divided political landscape. It reflects a growing public interest and demand for more information on these mysterious phenomena, which could have significant implications if substantiated.

The details

Trump's directive came after former President Barack Obama mentioned the possibility of alien life on a podcast, then quickly walked it back. Schumer has been advocating for more transparency on UFOs and unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) for years, following in the footsteps of his mentor, the late Senator Harry Reid, who played a key role in funding the Pentagon's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program. Schumer and Senator Mike Rounds previously introduced legislation to create a review board to collect and disclose government records on these topics, but it was ultimately watered down.

  • In late 2023, Schumer and Rounds introduced legislation to create a review board for UFO/UAP records.
  • In February 2026, Trump ordered the Secretary of War to begin the process of identifying and releasing government files related to extraterrestrial life and UFOs.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who has ordered the release of government files related to extraterrestrial life and UFOs.

Chuck Schumer

The current Senate Minority Leader who has long advocated for more transparency on UFOs and unidentified aerial phenomena, following in the footsteps of his mentor, the late Senator Harry Reid.

Harry Reid

The late former Senate Majority Leader who played a key role in funding the Pentagon's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program to investigate unexplained phenomena.

Mike Rounds

The Republican Senator from South Dakota who co-sponsored legislation with Schumer to create a review board for UFO/UAP records.

Pete Hegseth

The Secretary of War who has been tasked by Trump to begin the process of identifying and releasing government files related to extraterrestrial life and UFOs.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“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 (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.”

— Donald Trump (Truth Social)

“Now do UFOs.”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader (Twitter)

“It means that declassification of UAP records will be largely up to the same entities that have blocked and obfuscated their disclosure for decades.”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader (Statement)

What’s next

The timeline for the release of the documents and the breadth and scope of materials that could become public are still unclear, but the Department of Defense has stated it looks forward to working with the interagency to fulfill the President's directive.

The takeaway

The bipartisan push to declassify government files on UFOs and extraterrestrial life reflects a growing public interest in these mysterious phenomena, which could have significant implications if substantiated. This rare moment of political unity underscores the widespread curiosity and demand for more transparency on these topics.