10 Top US Scientists Missing, Trump Orders Probe

Lawmakers voice concern over disappearances and deaths of researchers with access to classified information

Apr. 20, 2026 at 2:37am

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty government research laboratory workspace, with a lone desk, chair, and computer monitor bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet unease and mystery.The disappearances and deaths of top US scientists with access to classified information have sparked a federal investigation, raising concerns about national security and the safety of the country's scientific community.Boston Today

The deaths or disappearances of at least 10 top US scientists and researchers with access to information related to aerospace, defense, and extraterrestrial life have prompted the Trump administration to order a probe. Several lawmakers have expressed concern over the 'too coincidental' nature of the cases, suggesting they may be linked to the scientists' access to classified information.

Why it matters

The disappearances and deaths of these high-profile scientists raise serious national security concerns, as many of them had access to sensitive information related to aerospace, defense, and potential UFO research. The potential involvement of foreign actors has added to the gravity of the situation and the need for a thorough investigation.

The details

The earliest of the deaths dates back to July 2023, when NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory physicist Michael David Hicks, who specialized in comets and asteroids, passed away. Other scientists who have gone missing or been found dead include Novartis researcher Jason Thomas, nuclear physicist and MIT professor Nuno Loureiro, former Los Alamos employee Anthony Chavez, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory researcher Frank Maiwald. Congressman Eric Burlison has been drawing attention to the disappearances, arguing that the scientists' access to classified information may have made them targets.

  • On July 30, 2023, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory physicist Michael David Hicks passed away.
  • On December 12, 2025, Novartis researcher Jason Thomas disappeared.
  • On December 15, 2025, nuclear physicist and MIT professor Nuno Loureiro was shot dead at his home near Boston.
  • On May 4, 2025, former Los Alamos employee Anthony Chavez disappeared.
  • On June 26, 2025, Melissa Casias, an administrative assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory, disappeared.

The players

Michael David Hicks

A NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory physicist who specialized in comets and asteroids.

Eric Burlison

A Republican Congressman from Missouri and member of the House Oversight Committee.

William McCasland

An Air Force Major General who vanished in February and reportedly tried to contact Congressman Burlison about his research into Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs).

Jason Thomas

A Novartis researcher who disappeared on December 12, 2025, and whose body was later recovered from a Massachusetts lake.

Nuno Loureiro

A nuclear physicist and MIT professor who was shot dead at his home near Boston on December 15, 2025.

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What’s next

The White House has stated that the administration is 'actively working with all relevant agencies and the FBI to holistically review all of the cases together and identify any potential commonalities that may exist.' The President has said he will know more about the cases and whether there could be any connection between them in the coming days.

The takeaway

The disappearances and deaths of these high-profile scientists have raised serious national security concerns, as many of them had access to sensitive information related to aerospace, defense, and potential UFO research. The potential involvement of foreign actors has added to the gravity of the situation, and a thorough investigation by the FBI and other agencies is crucial to uncover any potential links between the cases and ensure the safety of the nation's top scientific talent.