Nearly three weeks after announcing plans to declassify records, President Donald Trump has ordered the Department of Defense and other agencies to release government files on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), UFOs, and alleged extraterrestrial life. The directive follows public comments by Trump and former President Barack Obama, though experts expect limited new revelations based on prior disclosures.
On March 9, 2026, President Trump formalized his February 19 announcement by directing federal agencies to release files related to aliens, UAP, and UFOs. This builds on his Truth Social post and Air Force One remarks, where he cited 'tremendous public interest' and responded to Obama's recent podcast comments on extraterrestrial probabilities.
The order targets Defense Department holdings and emphasizes transparency amid heightened fascination with unexplained aerial phenomena. However, as with previous releases like the 2024 Pentagon AARO report—which resolved many UAP cases as mundane objects without extraterrestrial evidence—analysts predict few surprises.
This step advances ongoing U.S. government efforts to address UFO reports, including via the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office established in 2022.
