On May 8, 2026, the Department of War (DOW) made good on President Donald Trump's directive to bring unprecedented transparency to the UAP issue, releasing 162 declassified files through a new initiative called the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters — PURSUE.
The release, housed at WAR.GOV/UFO, represented the first centralized interagency effort to consolidate and publish UAP-related records from across the entire U.S. government. Participating agencies included the Department of War, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Department of Energy (DOE), NASA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO).
The Presidential Directive
The release was triggered by a February 2026 post on Truth Social, in which President Trump directed the Secretary of War "and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs)."
This followed growing congressional pressure, including a March 6, 2026 letter from eight House members requesting 51 specific UAP-related records, and a March 31 formal request from the House Oversight Committee for more than 40 UAP video files.
What Was Released
The first tranche — designated Release 01 and cleared on May 8 — contained 162 files spanning from the 1940s to the 2020s. Key categories included:
- DOW-UAP Videos (PR19–PR49): 31 military UAP encounter videos from the Department of War's files, including incidents from CENTCOM, INDOPACOM, and other combatant commands. These are the "release 1" videos that have been incorporated into the SearchUFOs case database.
- Historical DOD Documents: Cold War-era reports of "rotating saucers," classified memoranda, and military intelligence assessments dating back to 1947.
- FBI Records: Declassified FBI case files related to UAP investigations, including records from the FBI's own UFO file holdings.
- NASA Documents: Space agency records, including early Apollo-era medical debriefings and technical reports.
- DOE Records: Department of Energy documents related to UAP sightings near nuclear facilities.
Official Statements
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth described the initiative as a fundamental break from past administrations: "The Department of War is in lockstep with President Trump to bring unprecedented transparency regarding our government's understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it's time the American people see it for themselves."
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard added: "The American people have long sought transparency about the government's knowledge of unidentified anomalous phenomena. Today's release is the first in what will be an ongoing joint declassification and release effort."
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the unprecedented nature of the release: "For the first time in history, the American people have unfettered access to declassified government files on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon — a level of transparency that no prior administration has delivered."
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman struck a scientific tone: "At NASA, our job is to bring the brightest minds and most advanced scientific instruments to bear, follow the data, and share what we learn."
Context and Analysis
The PURSUE initiative represents a fundamental shift in government posture on UAP transparency. Where previous administrations largely dismissed or deflected on the topic, the Trump administration committed to a rolling release process, with new tranches promised every few weeks.
The White House framed it in characteristically direct terms: "While past administrations have sought to discredit or dissuade the American people, the President is focused on providing maximum disclosure to the public, who can ultimately make up their own minds about the information contained in these files. The American people asked, and President Trump delivered — enjoy!"
The initial media response was mixed. NPR called it a "trove of records" spanning decades. The War Zone took a more skeptical view, noting that "upon initial cursory review, there doesn't appear to be anything groundbreaking in this release." However, they acknowledged "that assessment could change as we have more time to examine the files."
What It Means for Research
For the research community, Release 01 provided a massive influx of primary source material. The 31 DOW-UAP videos alone represent one of the largest single releases of military UAP footage in history. Combined with the historical documents, researchers now have access to a broader picture of government UAP involvement than ever before.
The Department of War made clear that these are "unresolved cases" — meaning the government was unable to make a definitive determination on the nature of the observed phenomena. They explicitly invited "the application of private-sector analysis, information and expertise," signaling that the administration views public participation as part of the solution.
Release 01 set the stage for what would become an ongoing cycle of transparency — with Release 02 following just two weeks later on May 22, 2026, bringing even more records and the first-ever releases from the CIA and other intelligence agencies.