The U.S. Department of Defense released 162 previously classified files regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena on Friday, May 8 [1], [3].
This release marks a significant shift in government transparency regarding unidentified aerial objects. By making these records public, the Pentagon is providing access to internal reports and imagery that were previously shielded from public view.
The documents were posted to a dedicated public website at war.gov/ufo [4], [5]. The collection includes black-and-white imagery, official government reports, and transcripts from flight crews and NASA astronauts [1], [2], [3]. Some of these records date back almost 80 years [6].
The disclosure comes in response to a directive issued earlier in 2026 by President Donald Trump (R-FL) to make all UFO and UAP files public [7]. The move aims to resolve long-standing disputes over the secrecy of these sightings and the nature of the objects encountered by military and civilian pilots.
Among the released materials are excerpts from Apollo-11 transcripts involving Buzz Aldrin [8]. These documents provide a historical window into how the U.S. government documented anomalous sightings across different eras of aviation, and space exploration.
The Pentagon has not provided a detailed analysis of the contents of each file, leaving the interpretation of the imagery and transcripts to the public and independent researchers. The move follows years of pressure from transparency advocates and legislative inquiries into the nature of UAPs [2].
“The collection includes black-and-white imagery, official government reports, and transcripts from flight crews and NASA astronauts.”
The release of these 162 files represents a transition from anecdotal evidence to documented government records. By centralizing these files on a public portal, the U.S. government is attempting to standardize the public record on UAPs. This shift may reduce the influence of unofficial leaks while providing a baseline of verified data for the scientific community to analyze.
