President Donald Trump has directed his administration to begin identifying and potentially release government records related to aliens, extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), according to official statements and reporting.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he would instruct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other agency leaders to start the process of locating and releasing such files, citing “tremendous interest” from the public in the topic.
The directive covers materials on alien and extraterrestrial life, UAPs and UFOs, but it does not yet specify that all records will be declassified automatically before public release.
Officials have previously acknowledged that the U.S. military and federal agencies maintain records and investigations related to unexplained aerial phenomena, but longstanding statements from the Pentagon emphasize that there is currently no confirmed evidence of extraterrestrial technology or life.
The president’s announcement is part of a broader trend in Washington toward increased transparency on previously restricted subjects like UFOs and UAPs.
It remains unclear how many files exist, which could be made public, and what the timeline or process will look like for review and release.
Agencies involved typically conduct classification reviews before releasing sensitive materials so that they can withhold information tied to national security even while providing public access to declassified content.
