President Donald Trump, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, unveiled dozens of previously classified documents related to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), commonly referred to as UFOs. This disclosure, made on Friday, represents a notable shift in government policy, with the administration committing to increased transparency about alleged extraterrestrial encounters and unexplained aerial sightings.
The declassified collection consists of approximately 170 files, featuring significant records dating back to the late 1940s. Among the most compelling documents is a 1947 report describing “flying discs,” as well as photographic evidence obtained during the Apollo 12 mission in 1969.
Additionally, the release includes transcripts from the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, where astronaut Ronald Evans recounted observing “bright particles or fragments” drifting past the spacecraft during maneuvers. Although Mission Control’s responses were brief, the publication of these communications is expected to reignite debates about what astronauts may have encountered during the lunar missions.
Transparency advocates have welcomed the move enthusiastically. US Representatives Tim Burchett and Anna Paulina Luna indicated that another batch of documents is anticipated within the next 30 days. In a direct statement, President Trump challenged the public to scrutinize the evidence, asking, “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?” and implying that previous administrations deliberately withheld information from the public.
Notably, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb remarked that the release confirms the government’s long-standing collection of formal records on these phenomena, shifting the discussion beyond speculation. Defense Secretary Hegseth emphasized that the secrecy surrounding these files had “long fueled justified speculation,” insisting that the American people have the right to access this information themselves.
