Pentagon UFO Files Released: Decades of Mystery Unveiled

Soldier holding red top secret file folder.

The Trump administration has released 162 declassified government files on unidentified anomalous phenomena, inviting Americans to scrutinize decades of unexplained sightings while keeping over 100 documents partially redacted—a move that simultaneously promises transparency and raises fresh questions about what remains hidden.

At a Glance

Pentagon released 162 declassified files on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) through a new initiative called PURSUE, hosted at war.gov/UFO, following President Trump’s directive to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth [1][2][3]
Documents span from the 1940s to 2025 and include eyewitness accounts from military pilots, astronauts, and federal employees describing unexplained objects including ellipsoid metallic structures, triangular craft, and phenomena on the lunar surface [3][5][6]
108 of the 162 files contain redactions to protect eyewitness identities and military facility locations, limiting full public access to evidence while officials claim no information about UAP nature or existence was withheld [5][6]
The Pentagon acknowledges many materials remain unresolved, with no definitive determination on the nature of observed phenomena, and promises ongoing rolling releases of additional tranches from tens of millions of classified records [1][2]

Historic Release Marks Shift in Government Transparency

On May 8, 2026, the Department of War published the first batch of 162 declassified documents on unidentified anomalous phenomena under the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE) [1][2]. The initiative coordinates across 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Energy, and State Department [1]. Secretary Hegseth stated in an official release that “these files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation—and it’s time the American people see it for themselves,” framing the declassification as addressing decades of public curiosity [3][6].

The collection spans from declassified 1940s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) case files documenting civilian and pilot sightings through modern incident reports from military operators in Iraq, Syria, the Persian Gulf, and the Mediterranean [5][6]. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard emphasized that this represents an “unprecedented review” of government holdings spanning tens of millions of records, many existing only on paper across several decades [1]. Officials promise additional batches will be released on a rolling basis every few weeks as researchers continue declassification efforts [1][7].

Eyewitness Accounts and Specific Incidents Included

The released materials include accounts from Apollo astronauts documenting unexplained phenomena on the lunar surface during the 1969 Apollo 12 and 1972 Apollo 17 missions [3][5][6]. Apollo 17 astronauts reported seeing flashing lights while on the lunar surface, with Astronaut Ronald Evans observing “very bright particles” drifting nearby, while Harrison Schmitt described the phenomenon as resembling “the Fourth of July” [1]. The Pentagon noted that no consensus exists about the nature of these anomalies [1].

Modern military reports detail specific incidents including a 130-to-195-foot ellipsoid bronze metallic object that allegedly materialized from a bright light in September 2023, with an Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) lab-rendered graphic depicting the sighting [3][5]. One military pilot described observing a “triangular and metallic” unidentified anomalous phenomena flying at 25,000 feet over the Mediterranean [5]. Additional reports document an inverted teardrop-shaped object over the United Arab Emirates in June 2024 and unresolved incidents over Iraq in December 2022 and Greece in October 2023 [3].

The Pentagon identified seven federal government employees who submitted corroborating eyewitness reports from September 2023 describing “several unidentified anomalous phenomena.” Officials stated that “the reporters’ credibility, and the potentially anomalous nature of the events themselves—combine to make this report among the most compelling within” government holdings [3].

Redactions and Transparency Limitations

Of the 162 released files, 108 contain redactions, with the Pentagon stating that withheld information protects eyewitness identities, government facility locations, and “potentially sensitive information about military sites not related to UAP” [5]. Officials asserted that “no redactions have been made to any files released under President Trump’s directive concerning information about the nature or existence of any encounter reported as a UAP or related phenomena,” suggesting that core information about unexplained sightings themselves remains unredacted [5]. However, the extensive redactions mean the public cannot verify all contextual details surrounding reported incidents [5].

No definitive "smoking gun" proving ET tech or aliens in public UFO/UAP files. Pentagon just dropped 162+ declassified docs yesterday (May 8, 2026) on https://t.co/SOhEqMBwB5 – Apollo mission lights, military orbs, eyewitness reports. Many unexplained, but AARO finds no ET…

— Grok (@grok) May 9, 2026

Many materials in the collection have not yet been analyzed for resolution of anomalies, leaving the unexplained status preliminary rather than conclusively verified [1]. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) case file included in the release, spanning 1947 to 1968, had portions previously released; the current version contains fewer redactions and “several newly declassified pages,” but does not represent entirely new evidence [5].

Public Invited to Draw Own Conclusions

President Trump stated that “with these new documents and videos, the people can decide for themselves, ‘what the hell is going on?'” and encouraged the public to “have fun and enjoy” the materials [7]. The Pentagon explicitly welcomes private-sector analysis of the released unresolved cases, positioning independent researchers, scientific institutions, and the general public as participants in evaluating the phenomena [1][3]. This invitation extends to academic entities and forensic analysts who may apply advanced imaging techniques, radar correlation, and other investigative methods to the released photographs, videos, and incident reports [1].

The rollout represents the first phase of an ongoing declassification effort. Officials have indicated that additional tranches will be released from a repository estimated at tens of millions of records held across federal agencies, many requiring manual review from decades of accumulated government investigation into unresolved aerial phenomena [1][2]. Congressional representatives, including those who have requested specific materials such as 46 videos from military operations, are expected to continue pressing for expanded releases [1].