On February 19, 2026, President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon and other federal agencies to begin releasing government files related to UFOs, unidentified aerial phenomena, and extraterrestrial life.
The directive, posted to Truth Social, instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other agency heads:
“Begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.”
Trump cited “tremendous interest” as the basis for the order. He did not set a timeline for releases or specify which materials might be declassified.
What Triggered This
The directive came hours after Trump accused former President Barack Obama of improperly disclosing classified information. On February 14, Obama told podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen that aliens are “real” — a comment he later walked back, clarifying he saw no evidence of extraterrestrial contact during his presidency.
Trump told reporters: “I may get him out of trouble by declassifying.”
When asked directly whether he believes aliens are real, Trump said: “I don’t have an opinion on it. I never talk about it.”
The Reaction
Transparency advocates responded with cautious optimism.
Christopher Mellon, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, told DefenseScoop: “This might be a consequential moment, but the impact will depend on the follow-through.”
Mellon noted that AARO — the Pentagon’s UFO office — has already failed to deliver on congressional mandates, including a second volume of its historical report and its required 2025 annual report. A social media post, he implied, means little without institutional action.
Attorney Dillon Guthrie, who works on UAP disclosure issues, said early signs from Trump’s team were encouraging — senior cabinet members have signaled support — but cautioned the situation remains fluid.
Multiple officials involved in long-standing disclosure efforts said they’ll remain skeptical until the administration produces tangible results.
What the Pentagon Has Said
The Pentagon’s official position has not changed:
- A 2024 report from AARO found no evidence that any UAP reports involve extraterrestrial technology
- AARO holds over 1,600 UAP reports, with 757 of sufficient quality for analysis
- Most resolved cases turn out to be birds, balloons, drones, or other conventional objects
- Director Dr. Jon Kosloski testified in November 2024: “AARO has discovered no verifiable evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity, or technology”
What This Could Actually Mean
There are a few scenarios:
Best case: Agencies conduct a genuine review and release previously classified sensor data, intelligence assessments, or imagery related to UAP encounters. This would be unprecedented.
Likely case: A slow bureaucratic process yields some documents, most of which are already publicly available or heavily redacted. Similar to past declassification efforts.
Worst case: The directive is performative — a social media announcement with no formal executive order, no enforcement mechanism, and no follow-through.
The key question is whether this becomes a formal executive order with teeth, or remains a Truth Social post that federal agencies can quietly ignore.
Historical Context
This isn’t the first time a president has touched the UFO issue:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Project Sign — first official U.S. government UFO investigation |
| 1952 | Project Blue Book launched |
| 1969 | Project Blue Book closed |
| 2017 | New York Times reveals secret Pentagon UFO program (AATIP) |
| 2020 | Pentagon releases three Navy UAP videos |
| 2022 | AARO established to centralize UAP reporting |
| 2023 | David Grusch testifies about alleged crash retrieval programs |
| 2024 | AARO Historical Report Vol. 1 finds no ET evidence |
| 2026 | Trump directs agencies to release UFO files |
Sources: AP News · Reuters · NPR · DefenseScoop · USA Today