Pentagon Releases 160 Previously Declassified UAP Documents

U.S. government investigations into unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP, fulfilling an order from President Trump. The files appeared on a new dedicated website on May 8 or 9.

They include video footage and images of UAP sightings captured around the world as well as scanned historical records of government programs dating to the 1940s. Among them are accounts tied to the Apollo program, such as a light flash observed on the lunar surface during Apollo 17 and unidentified lights photographed by the crew from the Moon's surface.

" Trump first teased the release in a Truth Social post in February 2026.

The Pentagon coordinated the effort with the White House, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, the Energy Department, NASA and the FBI. S. S.

Indo-Pacific Command in 2024. S. Central Command in 2024. Two of the dozens of videos were taken near Japan. One depicts an object that resembles a football-shaped body.

The files contain a compendium of UAP reports filed by the public in the late 1940s, many handwritten or produced on typewriters. They also include material on the Apollo program and earlier government UFO investigations. Many of the documents were already publicly available, though some versions in the new release contain more pages or fewer redactions than earlier editions.

U.S. government has never claimed in these disclosures that it has detected or encountered extraterrestrial life. The Pentagon has said it will continue to release documents on a rolling basis every few weeks.

Initial public reaction reflected long-standing skepticism. More than 60 percent of Americans believe the government is concealing information about UAP, according to YouGov. Forty percent think UAP are likely alien in origin, according to Gallup.

“These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation”

“— Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth”

“President Donald Trump is focused on providing maximum transparency to the public, who can make up their own minds about the information contained in these files.”

“— Pentagon statement”