The U.S. Department of Defense released 162 declassified files regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena on Friday [1].
The release is part of a broader pledge by the Trump administration to increase transparency regarding unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). By making these documents public, the Pentagon aims to satisfy long-standing public interest in government knowledge of unexplained aerial events.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the release from Pentagon headquarters in Washington, D.C. The new tranche includes a variety of materials, such as photographs, videos, and unresolved reports [2]. Some of the released visuals reportedly depict an amoeba-like shape, a bright round shape, and lunar lights [3].
"It’s time the American people see it for themselves," Hegseth said [4].
The 162 files [1] were made available on May 8, 2026 [1]. This move follows previous efforts to move UAP reporting out of the shadows of classified intelligence and into the public record. The Pentagon has not yet provided a definitive explanation for the anomalies captured in the latest batch of imagery.
Government officials said the release is intended to provide a clearer picture of what the military has observed in its airspace. The documents contain data from various sensors and eyewitness accounts that remained classified until this week [2].
“"It’s time the American people see it for themselves."”
This release signals a shift in the U.S. government's approach to UAP, moving from a policy of secrecy to one of strategic disclosure. By releasing unresolved reports and visuals, the Pentagon is acknowledging the existence of phenomena that current military science cannot explain, potentially inviting more academic and public scrutiny to solve these anomalies.
