Pentagon Releases 162 Declassified UFO Files in Historic Transparency Move Under Trump's Direction
Pentagon Releases 162 Declassified UFO Files in Historic Transparency Move Under Trump's Direction
On May 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of War publicly released 162 previously classified files related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) — commonly known as UFOs — through an official government website. Carried out at the direct order of President Donald Trump, this disclosure is widely regarded as the most comprehensive release of UFO-related government information in U.S. history.
Background: The PURSUE Program and the Trump Administration's Transparency Pledge
In February 2026, President Trump directed the Department of War and other relevant agencies via Truth Social to begin identifying and releasing government files related to UFOs, UAPs, and extraterrestrial life. In response, the Department of War — the current designation for what was formerly the Department of Defense — launched a multiagency initiative under the name PURSUE (Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters).
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated in an official release: "These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it's time the American people see it for themselves." President Trump echoed this sentiment on Truth Social, criticizing previous administrations for lacking transparency on the subject and pledging "Complete and Maximum Transparency" so that "the people can decide for themselves."
All released materials are available to the public — no security clearance required — at war.gov/UFO. The dedicated page hosts the declassified documents, images, and videos for direct viewing, with new materials to be posted on a rolling basis every few weeks as additional files are discovered and declassified.
What the Files Contain
The 162 files originate from the FBI, Department of Defense, NASA, and the State Department, spanning decades of UAP-related records from around the world.
Apollo Mission Lunar Photographs
Archival images from NASA's Apollo 12 and 17 missions are included in the release. The Apollo 17 photograph notably shows three points of light arranged in a triangular formation against the lunar sky. New U.S. government preliminary analysis suggests the image feature "is potentially the result of a physical object in the scene." A separate document also records that Apollo 17 astronaut Jack Schmitt reported seeing a flash on the lunar surface north of the Grimaldi crater.
Recent Military Encounter Videos and Photos
Roughly 24 videos totaling 41 minutes document UAP encounters reported from around the world between 2020 and 2026. Most consist of infrared camera footage tracking white objects moving through the air. The collection includes infrared stills of unidentified objects near a helicopter over the western United States in September and December 2025.
Overseas Military Operation Reports
Multiple UAP reports from active U.S. military operation zones are included, covering Iraq (2022), Syria (2024), Africa (2025), the United Arab Emirates, and Greece. The Syria file records observations of "multiple glares or light from an unknown origin."
Large-Scale FBI Witness Reports
A substantial FBI file containing hundreds of pages of eyewitness testimonies and public reports on UFO sightings between 1947 and 1968 was made public, with fewer redactions than previously released versions.
2023 Composite Image of an Unidentified Ellipsoid Object
A composite image based on corroborating eyewitness reports from September 2023 depicts an apparent bronze metallic ellipsoid object approximately 130–195 feet in length that was reported to have materialized out of a bright light in the sky before disappearing instantaneously.
Scope and Limitations of the Release
Of the 162 files, 108 contain redactions. The Department of War stated that information was withheld solely to protect the identity of eyewitnesses, the location of government facilities, or sensitive military information unrelated to UAP. The department explicitly clarified: "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."
The Pentagon maintains, as stated in its 2024 report, that no government investigation has confirmed the existence of extraterrestrial life. President Trump has also said he is not certain whether aliens exist.
Global Search Interest
According to Kiolix Pulse data, the release of the UFO files has driven significant search activity across multiple countries simultaneously.
| Country | Search Volume |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | 200,000+ searches |
| 🇮🇳 India | 20,000+ searches |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 10,000+ searches |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 10,000+ searches |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 2,000+ searches |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 2,000+ searches |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 500+ searches |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 500+ searches |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 100+ searches |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 100+ searches |
The United States accounts for the largest share of search volume by a significant margin, followed by India, Canada, and the United Kingdom. English-speaking nations and India lead the interest, while European countries including Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany also show notable search activity.
Top related search terms include ufo files, ufo disclosure, aliens.gov, war.gov/ufo, pentagon ufo files, uap, trump ufo, and ufo files released.
Reactions from NASA and Others
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised the initiative, saying he applauded President Trump for the "effort to bring greater transparency to the American people on unidentified anomalous phenomena," and added that NASA would "remain candid about what we know to be true, what we have yet to understand, and all that remains to be discovered."
Track This Trend
Country-level search data for the UFO files trend is available on Kiolix Pulse (https://trend-now.org):
- 🇺🇸 United States: https://trend-now.org/google-search-trends/us/ufo%20files
- 🇨🇦 Canada: https://trend-now.org/google-search-trends/ca/ufo%20files
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: https://trend-now.org/google-search-trends/gb/ufo%20files
- 🇦🇺 Australia: https://trend-now.org/google-search-trends/au/ufo%20files
- 🇮🇳 India: https://trend-now.org/google-search-trends/in/ufo%20files
- 🇮🇹 Italy: https://trend-now.org/google-search-trends/it/ufo%20files
- 🇩🇪 Germany: https://trend-now.org/google-search-trends/de/ufo%20files
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands: https://trend-now.org/google-search-trends/nl/ufo%20files
- 🇵🇰 Pakistan: https://trend-now.org/google-search-trends/pk/ufo%20files
- 🇿🇦 South Africa: https://trend-now.org/google-search-trends/za/ufo%20files
Sources
- U.S. Department of War — PURSUE Official Page: https://www.war.gov/ufo/
- U.S. Department of War — Official Press Release: https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4480582/department-of-war-releases-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena-files-in-historic-t/
- CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pentagon-begins-release-ufo-files/
- CNN Politics: https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/08/politics/ufo-files-pentagon-release-aliens
- NewsNation: https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/ufo/pentagon-releases-online-ufo-photo-collection/
- Il Sole 24 ORE: https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/pentagon-makes-public-162-unpublished-ufo-documents-and-images-including-apollo-mission-shots-AIrvpxxC
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