The Trump Administration has launched an expansive, government-wide operation to unseal historical records related to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), marking a significant shift in federal transparency protocols regarding what the government officially calls Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP).
Following a direct mandate from President Donald J. Trump, the Department of War (DOW), supported by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), is now overseeing an effort to identify and release secret ‘unresolved’ records that have been hidden in government vaults for decades.
The first batch released by the US government contains 161 UAP-related files documenting incidents dating back to the 1940s.
In a statement released on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald J. Trump said, “As for my promise to you, the Department of War has released the first tranche of the UFO/UAP files to the public for their review and study.”
Trump added that, “In an effort for complete and maximum transparency,” he directed his administration to identify and provide government files related to “Alien and Extraterrestrial Life, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, and Unidentified Flying Objects.”
He further stated that previous administrations had “failed to be transparent on this subject,” and said the newly released documents and videos would allow the public to decide for themselves, “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?” He concluded the statement by saying, “Have Fun and Enjoy!”
Tens of Millions of Records
Officials described the undertaking as a “historic logistical challenge” that requires the coordination of dozens of agencies. The mandate involves the review of tens of millions of records, many of which are decades-old paper files that have never been digitized.
Given the immense scale of the task, the Department of War announced it will release materials on a rolling basis. New tranches of declassified documents are scheduled to be posted every few weeks as they are discovered and cleared for public viewing.
Focus on the “Unresolved”
The initiative specifically targets unresolved cases—incidents where the U.S. government has been unable to make a definitive determination on the nature of observed phenomena.
In a statement released today, United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of War is moving in lockstep with President Trump to provide the American public with unprecedented transparency regarding the government’s data on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). Hegseth acknowledged that these files, long shielded by high-level classifications, have fueled “justified speculation” for decades, asserting that it is time for the public to examine the evidence firsthand. He characterized the move as a cornerstone of the Trump Administration’s earnest commitment to open government and the unsealing of historic records.
In a notable departure from previous military posture, the Department of War explicitly stated that it “welcomes the application of private-sector analysis, information, and expertise” to help solve these cases. Officials acknowledged that cases often remain unresolved due to a lack of sufficient data, and the administration aims to leverage civilian technology and scientific insight to fill those gaps.
While the DOW will continue to conduct separate reporting on “resolved” UAP cases—those eventually identified as drones, balloons, or natural phenomena—this new push focuses on the backlog of the unexplained.
“Under this Administration, we will pursue the truth and share our findings with the American people,” the DOW directive concluded.
The declassified records, including the initial “Release 01” batch of 161 files, are now available for public viewing and download at war.gov/UFO. The Department of War has stated that further materials will be uploaded to this portal every few weeks as the declassification review continues.
