The federal government officially opened the vault Thursday on one of the most controversial subjects in modern American history, releasing a new wave of previously classified files on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena in what officials are calling an unprecedented transparency effort.
The announcement came directly from the Department of War, which unveiled a new online portal housing declassified UAP records from across the federal government. The release is part of a sweeping interagency initiative called the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters, or PURSUE.
According to the Department of War, the effort includes coordination between the White House, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Energy, NASA, the FBI, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office and additional intelligence agencies.
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) May 8, 2026
“This release follows the direction of President Donald J. Trump to begin the process of identifying and declassifying government files related to UAP in the interest of total transparency,” the Department of War said in its announcement. “No other President or administration in history has followed through on this level of UAP transparency.”
The newly launched government website, WAR.GOV/UFO, now hosts declassified videos, photographs and original source documents connected to UAP investigations. Officials said additional material will continue to be uploaded on a rolling basis.
“The American people can now access the federal government’s declassified UAP files instantly,” the statement said. “The latest UAP videos, photos, and original source documents from across the entire United States government are all in one place — no clearance required.”
The announcement marks a dramatic shift from decades of secrecy, ridicule and fragmented disclosures surrounding UFO investigations.
“While past administrations sought to discredit or dissuade the American people, President Trump is focused on providing maximum transparency to the public, who can ultimately make up their own minds about the information contained in these files,” the Department of War stated.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called the disclosure effort historic.
“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’s time the American people see it for themselves.”
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the release is only the beginning.
“Today’s release is the first in what will be an ongoing joint declassification and release effort,” Gabbard said, adding that intelligence agencies are conducting a “careful, comprehensive, and unprecedented review” of UAP records.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the move as a “landmark release of UAP records.”
“For the first time in history, the American people have unfettered access to declassified government files on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon — a level of transparency that no prior administration has delivered,” Patel said.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the scientific implications of the disclosures and the ongoing search for answers.
“We will remain candid about what we know to be true, what we have yet to understand, and all that remains to be discovered,” Isaacman said. “Exploration and the pursuit of knowledge are core to NASA’s mission as we endeavor to unlock the secrets of the universe.”
Officials noted that while the files were reviewed for national security concerns before publication, many of the materials “have not yet been analyzed for resolution of any anomalies.”
The release instantly ignited renewed public fascination with UAPs and disclosure efforts that have accelerated in recent years following military footage leaks, congressional hearings and growing demands for transparency from both lawmakers and the American public.
Now, for the first time, the federal government says the files are open for anyone to examine.
To view the government’s website on the UFO files, click here.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
