Trump Decree Leads to Deletion of 3.8 Million UFO Files

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The archive of 3.8 million UFO files was reportedly erased from the Black Vault website after former President Trump ordered the Pentagon to disclose data related to extraterrestrial life and unidentified aerial phenomena. The site's operator, ufologist John Greenwald Jr., noted suspicious changes in access rights and was able to restore the deleted files.

Why it matters

The deletion of this extensive UFO data archive raises concerns about government transparency and public access to information about unidentified flying objects. The incident also highlights the potential for political influence over the disclosure of sensitive information, even decades-old data.

The details

According to reports, the massive data purge occurred the day after Trump ordered the Pentagon to release information "related to extraterrestrial and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena and unidentified flying objects." Greenwald, who had been collecting the files for 30 years, said someone intentionally deleted every file from the Black Vault server, but did not close the site completely. Greenwald was able to restore the deleted files after saving much of the data separately.

• On February 24, 2026, former President Trump ordered the Pentagon to disclose data related to extraterrestrial life and UFOs.
• On February 25, 2026, the 3.8 million UFO files were deleted from the Black Vault website.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Greenwald has stated that he will continue to work to restore and preserve the deleted UFO files, and he is calling for greater transparency and public access to government information on this topic.