US President Donald Trump has announced that Washington will soon begin releasing government documents related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs), officially referred to as Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs).
Speaking at an event in Phoenix on Friday (April 17), Trump said the government had uncovered “very interesting documents” and that the first set of files would be made public “very, very soon.” The announcement follows his directive in February ordering the Department of Defence to review and declassify records linked to unexplained aerial sightings.
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Trump’s announcement came days after former US President Barack Obama recently spoke about the possibility of alien life during a podcast. He later clarified that he did not mean he had seen evidence of aliens while in office, but was referring to the likelihood that life could exist elsewhere in the universe.
1,000 unresolved cases
The process is being handled by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), a specialised agency set up to investigate unusual objects detected in US airspace. According to officials, AARO has collected over 2,000 reports so far. Many of these have been identified as drones, weather balloons or other known phenomena. However, nearly 1,000 cases remain unresolved due to a lack of clear data or unusual characteristics.
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Some of these incidents involve objects displaying sudden acceleration or movement patterns that do not align with known aircraft capabilities. In certain cases, there have been no visible propulsion systems, wings or exhaust trails, making them difficult to explain using current scientific understanding. Despite this, authorities have repeatedly stated that there is no confirmed evidence linking these sightings to alien life or extra-terrestrial technology.
National security
The push to release more information comes amid growing pressure from lawmakers. US Representative Anna Paulina Luna has called for the release of dozens of videos related to UAP investigations and has indicated that further steps could be taken if there is no transparency.
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“The presence of UAPs in and around the sensitive airspaces of US military installations poses a threat to the security of the armed forces and their readiness,” Luna said. Concerns have also been raised about the potential national security risks posed by unidentified objects operating near sensitive military areas.
At the policy level, the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act now requires government agencies to share more information with Congress about UAP activity, marking a shift towards greater oversight and disclosure.
Meanwhile, scientists have urged the government to release more detailed data, such as high-resolution satellite imagery and underwater sonar records, to allow independent analysis.
What’s in the documents?
Trump’s remarks come amid renewed public interest in the subject, though he has not claimed that the phenomena are of extra-terrestrial origin. The Pentagon has also not provided a detailed timeline for the release.