Former Air Force Officer Claims US Concealed Longstanding UFO Program
In recent testimony before a House Oversight subcommittee, retired Major David Grusch, a former Air Force intelligence officer, alleged that the US government has been concealing a longstanding program dedicated to retrieving and reverse engineering unidentified flying objects (UFOs). The official term used by the US government for such phenomena is unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). Grusch’s claims have ignited bipartisan interest, with Democrats and Republicans acknowledging the need for further research into UAPs due to potential national security implications. Concerns have been raised that some sightings observed by pilots may be linked to US adversaries.
According to Grusch, he was tasked in 2019 by the head of a government task force on UAPs to identify all highly classified programs related to their mission. However, while working at the National Reconnaissance Office, the agency responsible for operating US spy satellites, Grusch was denied access to a multi-decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program. He believes that the US has likely been aware of non-human activity since the 1930s.
Grusch’s claims have been contested by the Pentagon, which denies any cover-up. The Defense Department spokeswoman, Sue Gough, stated that no verifiable information has been discovered to substantiate the existence of programs involving the possession or reverse-engineering of extraterrestrial materials. However, the statement did not address unidentified aerial phenomena that are not suspected of being extraterrestrial objects.
Grusch has asserted that he became a government whistleblower after making his discovery and has faced retaliation for coming forward. He refrained from providing further details about the retaliatory tactics, citing an ongoing investigation. The hearing, chaired by Representative Glenn Grothman, was conducted with a more serious tone than recent hearings featuring whistleblowers celebrated by Republicans and criticized by Democrats.
Lawmakers from both parties expressed a desire for more transparency from the Pentagon, urging the release of further details about classified briefings and public images. Some lawmakers criticized the limited information revealed thus far, with the Pentagon having shown a video of a balloon-like shape taken by an F-18 military plane. In December, officials stated that several hundreds of new reports had been received since the renewed effort to investigate UFO sightings began. However, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security emphasized that there was currently no evidence to suggest that any of the observed objects were of alien origin.
The claims made by Grusch have sparked renewed interest in the study of UFOs and UAPs. Members of Congress sought to understand more about the government’s UAP programs and discussed the need for transparent reporting systems to gain clarity on unidentified aerial phenomena. The Pentagon’s cautious approach regarding public disclosure and the skepticism surrounding Grusch’s testimony highlight the ongoing debate surrounding these mysterious phenomena.
In conclusion, retired Major David Grusch’s testimony has brought attention to the alleged concealment of a longstanding UFO program by the US government. With bipartisan interest and concerns about national security, discussions about unidentified aerial phenomena are gaining momentum in Congress. The Pentagon continues to deny any cover-up, emphasizing the absence of verifiable evidence supporting extraterrestrial programs. As the debate continues, the pursuit of transparency and the need for further research remain key points of interest regarding UFOs and UAPs.
