Washington, D.C. — Americans can now access hundreds of newly declassified government records tied to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena after the Department of War on Friday launched a public online archive containing videos, photographs, and intelligence documents previously shielded from public view.
The release marks the first phase of the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters, known as PURSUE, a multi-agency transparency initiative involving the White House, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, NASA, the FBI, the Department of Energy, and the Department of War’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office. Officials said additional files will continue rolling out through the newly created website, WAR.GOV/UFO.
President Donald Trump directed the declassification effort, according to the announcement, framing the move as a historic transparency campaign aimed at giving the public direct access to government-held information about unexplained aerial and anomalous encounters.
The release immediately places long-secretive UAP material into public view at a time when interest in unidentified aerial sightings has intensified across Congress, intelligence agencies, and the broader public.
Government Opens Centralized UAP Archive
Officials said the online archive consolidates records from across multiple federal agencies into a single public-facing portal, allowing users to review declassified videos, images, reports, and source documents without security clearances.
The Department of War said all materials underwent security review before publication, though some files may still contain unresolved anomalies or lack final analytical conclusions.
“This release of declassified documents demonstrates the Trump Administration’s earnest commitment to unprecedented transparency,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a statement. “These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it’s time the American people see it for themselves.”
The announcement described the initiative as the largest coordinated federal disclosure effort related to UAP records in U.S. history.
Key Points
• The Trump administration launched a public UAP archive at WAR.GOV/UFO
• Multiple agencies, including ODNI, NASA, FBI, and DOE, contributed records
• Officials said additional declassified files will be released on a rolling basis
Intelligence Agencies Begin Ongoing Declassification Push
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Friday’s publication represents only the beginning of a broader review and declassification campaign involving the U.S. intelligence community.
“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.”
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said it coordinated with the Department of War and intelligence agencies to determine which materials could safely enter the public domain without compromising national security operations or classified collection methods.
Federal agencies have faced mounting bipartisan pressure in recent years to disclose more information surrounding UAP investigations, particularly after congressional hearings and military footage intensified scrutiny over unexplained aerial encounters reported by pilots and defense personnel.
The Department of War’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, commonly known as AARO, has played a central role in evaluating military sightings and compiling government assessments tied to unexplained phenomena in air, sea, and space environments.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the release as a “landmark” moment for public access to national security records involving unexplained incidents.
“For the first time in history, the American people have unfettered access to declassified government files on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon,” Patel said. “As these files continue to be reviewed and released, the American people can be confident that their security remains our highest priority.”
NASA Signals Scientific Focus on Unexplained Encounters
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency intends to approach the newly released material through scientific analysis rather than speculation, emphasizing the agency’s role in evaluating data and unexplained observations.
“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. “We will remain candid about what we know to be true, what we have yet to understand, and all that remains to be discovered.”
The administration’s move arrives amid years of growing public fascination surrounding unidentified aerial reports, particularly after previously classified Navy videos surfaced and congressional committees increased oversight into military encounters involving unexplained craft.
While Friday’s release promotes broader transparency, officials acknowledged that many documents may not contain definitive explanations or conclusions. The Department of War said some files remain only partially analyzed and could require further technical review.
The administration also sought to contrast the initiative with prior federal handling of UAP disclosures, arguing previous governments were more reluctant to publicize such records.
The newly launched portal includes materials from multiple federal departments and is expected to expand over time as additional reviews conclude. Officials did not specify how many total files could eventually become public or provide a timeline for future disclosures.
Public Interest Expected to Intensify
The release is likely to draw significant attention from researchers, lawmakers, UFO investigators, and skeptics alike, especially as the government promises continuing disclosures in the months ahead.
The Department of War said WAR.GOV/UFO will serve as the central hub for future document drops, newly cleared media, and updates tied to ongoing declassification reviews.
As of Friday, officials said the broader investigation and analysis of many UAP-related materials remains ongoing.