WASHINGTON — May 8, 2026: The Department of War (DOW) on Friday announced the first public release of declassified government records related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) under a new interagency transparency initiative known as the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE).
The release follows a directive issued by President Donald J. Trump ordering federal agencies to identify, review, and declassify records connected to UAP incidents, unidentified flying objects, alleged extraterrestrial-related information, and related government investigations. Officials described the initiative as the first centralized U.S. government effort to publicly consolidate and release historical and contemporary UAP materials from across multiple agencies.
The newly launched portal, WAR.GOV/UFO, will serve as the central repository for released records and future updates. The Department of War stated that additional files will continue to be published on a rolling basis every few weeks as security reviews and declassification procedures are completed.
Initial Release Includes Videos, Photos and Intelligence Records
According to the Department of War, the initial tranche — designated “Release 01” and cleared on May 8, 2026 — contains 161 declassified files, while accompanying departmental summaries referenced 162 unresolved case records included in the broader release package.
The files include videos, photographs, sensor data, operational reports, intelligence memorandums, transcripts, cables, and original source documents collected across several decades by various U.S. government agencies.
Among the released materials are FBI records associated with case file 65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894, historical UAP sighting reports spanning nearly 80 years, and declassified State Department communications. The archive also includes NASA mission transcripts and imagery linked to the Apollo 12 and Apollo 17 lunar missions.
Officials familiar with the release stated that some of the records contain imagery and sensor observations involving airborne or transmedium objects that investigators were unable to conclusively identify at the time. Several accompanying assessments reportedly note that no consensus was reached regarding the nature of certain anomalies, while preliminary evaluations in some cases suggested the possible presence of physical objects rather than equipment malfunctions or natural atmospheric phenomena.
The Department of War emphasized that all files underwent security review procedures before publication in order to protect classified intelligence sources, collection methods, and operational capabilities. However, officials noted that many of the released records have not yet undergone complete analytical review concerning anomaly resolution.
PURSUE Program Coordinates Multiple Federal Agencies
The PURSUE initiative is being conducted through coordination between the White House, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of War’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other U.S. intelligence agencies.
The Department of War stated that the PURSUE program is primarily focused on unresolved historical records, while AARO will continue issuing separate reports on resolved UAP investigations as required under existing federal statutes.
Officials also confirmed that the review process involves tens of millions of records across government agencies, including large quantities of archival paper documents that require digitization and classification review before release.
Administration Officials Describe Release as Transparency Effort
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the release reflects the administration’s effort to expand public access to government-held UAP information.
“The Department of War is in lockstep with President Trump to bring unprecedented transparency regarding our government’s understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena,” Hegseth said. “These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation, and it is time the American people see them for themselves.”
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated that the Intelligence Community is coordinating closely with the Department of War to support the continuing declassification effort.
“The American people have long sought transparency about the government’s knowledge of unidentified anomalous phenomena,” Gabbard said. “Today’s release is the first in what will be an ongoing joint declassification and release effort.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau would continue supporting the initiative as additional files are prepared for publication.
“The FBI remains committed to supporting this rolling declassification effort with the same rigor and integrity we bring to every national security matter,” Patel stated.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said NASA would continue contributing scientific analysis and technical review to the broader effort.
“At NASA, our job is to bring the brightest minds and most advanced scientific instruments to bear, follow the data, and share what we learn,” Isaacman said.
Congressional Pressure and Earlier Disclosures
The release comes amid growing congressional and public pressure for broader transparency regarding UAP investigations and historical government records.
On March 31, 2026, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform formally requested that Secretary Hegseth provide more than 40 UAP-related video files, citing concerns related to military airspace security, aviation safety incidents, and whistleblower allegations concerning undisclosed government holdings.
Friday’s disclosure also expands on an earlier release conducted on April 29, 2026, when the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy published a smaller collection of UAP-related records dating back to 2012. Those materials included Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet sensor footage, internal memorandums, and references to crash retrieval-related procedures.
Additional Releases Planned
The Department of War stated that WAR.GOV/UFO will remain the permanent centralized portal for future disclosures. According to officials, the platform categorizes records by submitting agency, incident date, and geographic location in order to support public review and independent research.
The department added that members of the public, academic institutions, and private-sector analysts are encouraged to examine the released materials and form independent conclusions regarding unresolved cases contained within the archive.
Additional tranches of declassified UAP records are expected to be released on a continuing basis as interagency reviews and security assessments are completed.
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