Unpacking UAP: A Modern Mystery
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), as defined during the hearing, refer to unexplained occurrences observed in space, in the air, or under water. Over the years, countless witnesses have reported sightings of objects moving erratically in the skies, emerging from oceans, or displaying flight characteristics vastly different from known technologies.
Significantly, much of the evidence discussed stemmed from classified data gathered by advanced radar systems and satellites. These sources, while credible, remain shrouded in secrecy due to their sensitive nature. This has left the public in the dark about key details, sparking growing calls for transparency.
A Call for Clarity and Accountability
The hearing aimed to shed light on the classified U.S. government programs related to UAP and to press for greater transparency. Chaired by Republican Representative Nancy Mace and co-chaired by Representative Glenn Grothman, who spearheaded a notable UAP-related hearing last year, the session marked a critical step in addressing public and congressional concerns.
Testimonies Under Oath
Four prominent witnesses addressed Congress during the live-streamed session:
- Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Tim Gallaudet
- Former Department of Defense official Luis Elizondo
- Michael Gold, a member of NASA's independent UAP study team
- Investigative journalist Michael Shellenberger, who recently revealed the existence of the controversial "Immaculate Constellation" report.
Each witness was sworn in before Congress and a global audience, committing to "tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
Congress Grills Witnesses
Every member of Congress was allotted five minutes to question the witnesses. Chairwoman Mace, known for her forthrightness, set the tone with a bold statement: "Come at me, bro!" when referencing the contentious "Immaculate Constellation" report.
She emphasized that taxpayers have a right to understand how government funds are allocated, particularly regarding UAP-related programs. Despite substantial public funding, Mace criticized the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies for a lack of transparency, citing six consecutive failed audits and excessive overclassification of documents.
Challenges for Accountability
The hearing underscored Congress's ongoing efforts to demystify UAP phenomena and address allegations of withheld information from both the public and elected representatives. The Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), established to investigate UAPs, has faced criticism for its ineffectiveness and lack of clarity.
Recent legislation mandated an oral report from AARO to shed light on the government's historical engagement with UAP. However, the report was met with skepticism, casting doubts on the office’s commitment to transparency. Concerns about the AARO’s budget have further fueled questions about its priorities and whether taxpayer dollars are being mismanaged.
Unanswered Questions
Among the most pressing concerns raised were allegations of government disinformation and revelations about a secret UAP program concealed from Congress. Chairwoman Mace pointedly asked:
"If we’re spending money on something that doesn’t exist, why are we spending the money, and if it does exist, why are we hiding it from the public?"
This historic hearing marks a pivotal moment in the quest for answers about UAPs, as Congress pushes for accountability, transparency, and an end to the secrecy surrounding these unexplained phenomena.
Testimony Spotlight
Written Testimony of Luis Elizondo (source)
For the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
Subcommittees on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation; and
National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Greetings, Chairwoman Mace, Chairman Grothman, Ranking Members Connolly and Garcia, and Members of the Committee. It is my honor and privilege to testify before you on the issue of unidentified anomalous phenomena, formerly known as UFOs. On behalf of our brave men and women in uniform and across the intelligence community, as well as my fellow Americans who have awaited this day, thank you for your leadership on this important matter.
Let me be clear: UAP are real. Advanced technologies not made by our Government – or any other government – are monitoring sensitive military installations around the globe. Furthermore, the U.S. is in possession of UAP technologies, as are some of our adversaries. I believe we are in the midst of a multi-decade, secretive arms race— one funded by misallocated taxpayer dollars and hidden from our elected representatives and oversight bodies.
For many years, I was entrusted with protecting some of our nation's most sensitive programs. In my last position, I managed a Special Access Program on behalf of the White House and the National Security Council. As such, I appreciate the need to protect certain sensitive intelligence and military information. I consider my oath to protect secrets as sacred and will always put the safety of the American people first. With that said, I also understand the consequences of excessive secrecy and stove-piping. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the aftermath of 9/11, which many of us remember all too well.
I believe that America’s greatness depends on three elements:
- a watchful Congress;
- a responsive Executive Branch; and
- an informed public.
Over the last decade and a half, I learned that certain UAP programs were, and are, operating without any of these elements.
Although much of my Government work on the UAP subject still remains classified, excessive secrecy has led to grave misdeeds against loyal civil servants, military personnel, and the public – all to hide the fact that we are not alone in the cosmos.
A small cadre within our own Government involved in the UAP topic has created a culture of suppression and intimidation that I have personally been victim to, along with many of my former colleagues. This includes unwarranted criminal investigations, harassment, and efforts to destroy one’s credibility.
Most Americans would be shocked to learn that the Pentagon’s very own Public Affairs Office openly employs a professional psychological operations officer as the singular point of contact for any UAP-related inquiries from citizens and the media. This is unacceptable.
Many of my former colleagues and I have provided classified testimony to both the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community Inspector General. Many of us have subsequently been targeted by this cabal with threats to our careers, our security clearances, and even our lives. This is not hyperbole, but a genuine fact, and this is wrong.
To fix these problems, I propose three principal actions:
- First, Congress and the President should create a single pointof-contact responsible for a whole-of-government approach to the UAP issue. Currently, the White House, CIA, NASA, the Pentagon, Department of Energy, and others play a role, but no one seems to be in charge, leading to unchecked power and corruption.
- Second, we need a national UAP strategy that will promote transparency and help restore the American public’s trust at a time when the public’s trust is at an all-time low. This strategy should include a whole-of-government approach, including the academic and scientific communities, the private sector, and our international partners and allies.
- Third, Congress should create a protected environment so whistleblowers, desperate to do the right thing, can come forward without fear. As it currently stands, these
whistleblowers suffer because of stigma, a code of silence, and concerns about retaliation. These whistleblowers should be encouraged to come forward in ways that protect them against any forms of retaliation. Policies and procedures should ensure that protection. And for those who refuse to cooperate, it is up to the Members of this Committee and other lawmakers to wield their subpoena power against hostile witnesses and prevent additional Government funding to those UAP efforts that remain hidden from Congressional oversight.
In closing, we as Americans, have never been afraid of a challenge. In fact, we thrive on them. Whether it’s eradicating polio or going to the moon. We don’t run from a challenge; we take it head on. To the incoming Administration and Congress, I say to you, we need immediate public transparency, and this hearing is an important step on that journey. If we approach the UAP topic in the same way we as Americans have met other challenges, we can restore our faith in our government institutions. Together, we can usher in a new era of accountable government and scientific discovery. I believe that we as Americans can handle the truth. And I also believe the world deserves the truth. Thank you, esteemed members of Congress, for your time today. It is profoundly appreciated by many.
Questions & Answers
The four witnesses took turns addressing relevant questions raised by members of Congress present at the hearing.
The speakers primarily highlighted several key concerns regarding UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena). First, they criticized government secrecy and the lack of Congressional oversight. They also expressed worries about UAP incursions, which could pose threats to national security and public safety. The witnesses’ testimonies underscored the need for transparency and protection for those who share their experiences. They also discussed secret recovery and reverse engineering programs, raising questions about the research capabilities of the United States. Finally, they called for better data collection and sharing on UAPs to gain a deeper understanding of these phenomena.
Excerpt:
Representative Robert Garcia: "What do you believe UAP could be or are?"
Tim Gallaudet: "There is strong evidence that they are non-human higher intelligence."
Luis Elizondo: "I echo my colleague's comment."
Michael Shellenberger: "Sir I genuinely do not know."
Mike Gold: "I don't know but we MUST find out okay."
Other Notable Testimonies During the Hearing
It was reported that some unidentified individuals opposed holding this hearing, fearing potential disclosures. Certain agencies refused to share information with Congress, raising questions about UAP-related expenditures and the resistance encountered.
During the hearing, it was revealed that influence operations were conducted on Tim Gallaudet to persuade him that UAPs were merely American technologies and to discredit the validity of a historical report riddled with errors. Efforts were also made to cast doubt on authentic UAP reports, including the Tic-Tac incident.
Gallaudet recounted participating in a pre-deployment naval exercise off the U.S. East Coast, which resulted in the famous "Go Fast" video. This video captured an unidentified object exhibiting flight and structural characteristics unmatched by any known arsenal, recorded by the sensors of a Navy F/A-18 jet. Gallaudet, part of a group of commanders involved in the exercise, stated they all received an email containing the video, sent by the operations officer of the Fleet Forces Command.
The next day, the email mysteriously disappeared from his inbox and those of the other recipients, with no explanation he said.
Congress members demanded "truth, science, and facts," but concerns persisted about UAP incursions over military installations, with detailed information lacking. Although Luis Elizondo is bound by non-disclosure agreements preventing him from discussing UAP recovery programs, he confirmed their existence.
Representative Mace: "Has the government conducted secret UAP crash retrieval programs? Yes or no?"
Elizondo: "Yes."
Mace: "Okay. Were they designed to identify and reverse-engineer alien craft? Yes or no?"
Elizondo: "Yes."
Representative Mace highlighted that the government had compensated employees injured during UAP-related incidents. Elizondo acknowledged the validity of this concern, stating he had seen documents confirming injuries. Mace questioned the absurdity of the situation, asking why the government would compensate employees injured by UAPs if they were not real, pointing to the hypocrisy and illogical nature of the government’s response to the phenomenon.
Mace referred to Elizondo’s earlier testimony, where he stated that advanced technologies not originating from governments monitored sensitive military installations worldwide. She asked whether these technologies were produced by private companies or non-human intelligence. Elizondo replied that it could be both.
Asked for his definition of UAPs, Elizondo responded: "It’s an enigma sir and a frustration. We are talking about technologies that can outperform anything we have in our inventory and if this was an adversarial technology this would be an intelligent failure eclipsing that of 9/11 by an order of magnitude."
Representative Burlison questioned Luis Elizondo about the collection of biological materials linked to UAPs. Elizondo confirmed knowledge of such reports and admitted that bodies had been recovered, though he did not specify their number or type. He clarified that these discussions predated his arrival at the Pentagon. He also mentioned that the origin of the biological materials was linked to Lockheed Martin but involved separate subjects.
Elizondo remains confident that many classified documents can still be shared with Congress and the public.
Journalist Michael Shellenberger confirmed the credibility of his sources regarding the "Immaculate Constellation" report, a database on UAPs. He stated that his sources were either current Department of Defense employees or former government officials. He emphasized that the government and intelligence community possessed substantial amounts of high-resolution visual data on UAPs, stored over a long period.
Citing the report, Shellenberger mentioned that an F-22 jet encountered multiple orbital objects during a patrol at an unspecified location and date.
Shellenberger: "The F22 broke trajectory and attempted to evade but was intercepted and Boxed In by approximately 3 to 6 UAPs."
Data suggests a correlation between U.S. military installations and significant UAP activity, with some UAPs exhibiting accelerations exceeding 2,000-3,000 g and instant speed changes. In comparison, an F-16 fighter jet begins to break apart at around 17 g, and pilots lose consciousness at approximately 9 g. It was suggested that if this technology originated from a foreign adversary known to the U.S., it would represent an intelligence failure.
Michael Gold, former NASA Associate Administrator, stressed the importance of greater NASA involvement in analyzing UAP data to destigmatize the phenomenon and promote scientific inclusion. He asserted that science is the best way to understand UAPs but that current stigma hinders research. Gold highlighted that NASA could play a key role in combating this stigma.
He mentioned NASA’s extensive archive of UAP observations and suggested that artificial intelligence could be used to sift through the data and isolate unexplained incidents. He recommended the development of specialized instruments to properly identify these phenomena.
Gold: "I believe most UAPs are likely drones, experimental aircraft, weather phenomena [...] but there is a percentage that isn't. And looking into those anomalies is how discoveries will be made "
All witnesses agreed that the federal government intentionally withholds certain UAP information from the public.
Key Takeaways
The hearing raised significant concerns about UAP information management, national security implications, and the need for government transparency. Recommendations were made to improve disclosure to the public. What stood out were not so much the witnesses’ answers but the questions posed by Congress members, reflecting their interest in the topic. While some witnesses were unable to publicly answer sensitive questions, they may do so privately. Congress members also raised questions about hybridization and the existence of a non-human base in the oceans, suggesting they may have been briefed on such rumors.
Following the hearing, Nancy Mace released an adapted version of the "Immaculate Constellation" program for public access, implying that the full report contains sensitive information.
"As the saying goes, the truth exists; we just need the courage and boldness to confront it."
— Mike Gold
