President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Defense to fully declassify and release government records regarding unidentified flying objects [1].

This directive marks a significant shift in government secrecy regarding unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). By opening these archives, the administration aims to address long-standing public curiosity and provide what officials described as unprecedented transparency [1, 5].

The order was announced during the first week of May 2024 [2]. Following this directive, the Pentagon released dozens of previously classified files on May 8, 2024 [3, 4]. A White House spokesperson said the administration is committed to transparency and will make these files available to the American people [6].

Andrew Hay said President Donald Trump formally directed the Department of Defense to declassify and release all records related to unidentified aerial phenomena [7]. While some reports indicate a total declassification of secret files [6], other accounts specify that dozens of specific documents have been released thus far [3].

The move follows years of internal reports regarding aerial anomalies. Luis Elizondo said that for the last eight years [8], there have been dozens upon dozens of near-air collisions involving military, civilian, and commercial pilots [8].

The release of these documents is intended to clarify the nature of these encounters. Officials said the goal is to provide a clearer understanding of UAP phenomena and their potential impact on national security [1, 5].

“President Donald Trump has formally directed the Department of Defense to declassify and release all records related to unidentified aerial phenomena.”

The declassification of UAP records represents a move toward institutionalizing the study of unidentified aerial phenomena. By shifting these files from classified intelligence to the public domain, the U.S. government is acknowledging the validity of pilot encounters and attempting to mitigate the proliferation of conspiracy theories through official disclosure.