Government record

UAP Disclosure Timeline

1947 TO PRESENT — OFFICIAL CONFIRMATIONS & MILESTONES

79+
Years of documented history
12+
Official govt confirmations
3
Congressional hearings since 2022
Active
Declassification order
Home/ Disclosure
June 24, 1947
Kenneth Arnold Sighting — Birth of the Modern UFO Era
Pilot Kenneth Arnold observes nine crescent-shaped objects near Mount Rainier, Washington. His description to media produces the term "flying saucer." [United Press International, June 1947]
July 1947
Roswell Incident
A recovered object near Roswell, New Mexico. The Army Air Force initially releases a statement claiming recovery of a "flying disc" before reversing to "weather balloon." The incident remains the most debated case in UAP history. [Roswell Daily Record, July 8, 1947]
1947–1952
Project Sign, Project Grudge
The Air Force launches formal UFO investigations. Project Sign's 1948 classified "Estimate of the Situation" reportedly concluded that UFOs were of extraterrestrial origin — a conclusion reportedly rejected by Air Force Chief of Staff General Hoyt Vandenberg.
July 1952
Washington D.C. UFO Flap — Radar Confirmation
Multiple objects are tracked simultaneously on radar at Washington National Airport and Andrews AFB over two consecutive weekends. Jets are scrambled. The Pentagon holds its largest press conference since WWII. [Washington Post, July 28, 1952]
January 1953
CIA Robertson Panel
The CIA convenes a scientific panel that recommends debunking UFO reports to reduce public interest and clog military communication channels. Critics argue this policy shaped official dismissiveness for decades.
1952–1969
Project Blue Book — 17 Years of Official Investigation
The Air Force's longest-running official UFO study investigates 12,618 reports. 701 remain classified as "unidentified" at closure. The Condon Report recommends termination.
December 1969
Project Blue Book Terminates
The Air Force officially ends Project Blue Book, declaring no UFO has ever threatened national security and no evidence of extraterrestrial vehicles exists. 701 cases remain unresolved. [U.S. Air Force, December 17, 1969]
November 2004
USS Nimitz Encounter
Navy pilots from the USS Nimitz encounter a white Tic-Tac shaped object off California. The incident is classified and remains so for 13 years. Commander David Fravor's detailed account is recorded internally.
December 2017
New York Times AATIP Revelation
The New York Times reveals the secret Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), a $22 million program run by Luis Elizondo at the Pentagon. Three Navy UAP videos are published simultaneously. [NYT, December 16, 2017]
April 2020
Pentagon Officially Releases UAP Videos
"The Department of Defense has authorized the release of three unclassified Navy videos... The aerial phenomena observed in the videos remain characterized as unidentified." [DoD Official Statement, April 27, 2020]
May 2021
Obama Speaks Publicly
Former President Barack Obama discusses UAPs on national television: "There are objects in the skies that we don't know exactly what they are." Speaking after access to the world's highest security clearances.
June 2021
DNI Preliminary Assessment Released
The Director of National Intelligence releases the first public UAP report, covering 144 reports from U.S. government sources. Only one is explained. The report acknowledges 18 cases of unusual flight characteristics. [ODNI, June 25, 2021]
May 2022
First Public Congressional UAP Hearing in 50 Years
The House Intelligence subcommittee holds the first public UAP hearing since 1969. Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Ronald Moultrie and Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence Scott Bray testify. New footage is shown. [C-SPAN, May 17, 2022]
July 2022
AARO Established
The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) is established within the Department of Defense. It reports to the Secretary of Defense and DNI, with a mandate broader than any previous program.
July 2023
Whistleblower Grusch Congressional Testimony
"The United States government has recovered non-human biologics from UAP crash sites." — David Grusch, sworn testimony before the House Oversight Committee. Two additional military officers provide corroborating testimony under oath. [C-SPAN, July 26, 2023]
2024
NASA UAP Independent Study Published
NASA releases its independent UAP study report, calling for more rigorous data collection and a scientific framework for analyzing aerial anomalies. NASA appoints a UAP research director. [NASA, September 2024]
February 2026 — ACTIVE
Trump Administration Issues Declassification Directive
The Trump administration issues a directive ordering the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies to identify and release UAP-related classified files within 90 days. Congressional sources indicate files could include radar data, internal investigations, and materials related to whistleblower claims. Status: In progress — deadline approximately May 2026.

Current Status

DECLASSIFICATION ACTIVE

Trump declassification directive issued February 2026. 90-day window active. Files expected May 2026.

Key officials
  • Barack Obama
    44th President — spoke publicly 2021
  • David Grusch
    Former NRO/NGA — whistleblower testimony 2023
  • Luis Elizondo
    Former AATIP director — resigned 2017 in protest
  • Cmdr. David Fravor
    USS Nimitz pilot — primary Tic-Tac witness

Frequently asked questions — disclosure

AARO — All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office — is the Pentagon office established in July 2022 to detect, identify, and attribute unidentified anomalous phenomena. It reports to the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence and has a broader mandate than any previous UAP program.
In July 2023, former intelligence official David Grusch testified under oath before the House Oversight Committee that the U.S. government has recovered non-human biologics from UAP crash sites and has been running a long-term reverse-engineering program. Three other current and former military and intelligence officers provided corroborating testimony under oath.
In February 2026, the Trump administration issued a directive ordering the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies to identify and release UAP-related classified files within 90 days. It follows years of congressional pressure and whistleblower testimony. The deadline falls approximately in May 2026.
Yes. In April 2020, the Department of Defense officially confirmed that three Navy videos — FLIR1, Gimbal, and GoFast — depict real, unidentified aerial phenomena. The official DoD statement said: "The aerial phenomena observed in the videos remain characterized as unidentified." This is the most direct official confirmation to date.
Project Blue Book was the U.S. Air Force's official UFO investigation program from 1952 to 1969. It investigated 12,618 UFO reports over 17 years. At termination, 701 cases remained classified as "unidentified." The program was headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. Many researchers have criticized the program's methodology as designed to explain cases rather than investigate them objectively.