Presidential Directive Issued
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, February 20, 2026, that he has directed federal agencies to commence the process of identifying and releasing government files pertaining to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and alien life forms. The directive, shared via a post on his Truth Social platform and subsequently amplified by official White House channels, cited 'tremendous interest shown' by the public as the impetus for the move.
Scope of the Order
The order specifically targets the Pentagon, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned in some reports, alongside 'other relevant Departments and Agencies' within the United States government. The scope of the requested release is broad, encompassing 'Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.' It is important to note that the directive instructs agencies 'to begin the process of identifying and releasing,' suggesting a review-and-release effort rather than an immediate, blanket declassification of all such records.
Context and Preceding Events
The announcement comes shortly after former President Barack Obama made public comments regarding the existence of aliens, which garnered significant media attention. President Trump subsequently accused Obama of making a 'big mistake' and disclosing 'classified information' during these discussions. Public interest in UAPs has grown considerably in recent years, fueled by reports from military personnel and congressional inquiries into the phenomena.
Previous Official Stances and Investigations
Despite the renewed push for transparency, official government reports have consistently maintained a cautious stance on extraterrestrial evidence. A 2024 Pentagon report, for instance, stated that there is 'no evidence that any government investigation into UAPs has confirmed the existence of extraterrestrial life' and that most sightings were attributable to misidentified ordinary objects. The Department of Defense established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in July 2022 to centralize and analyze reports of UAPs, taking over from an earlier task force. The AARO's director, Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, stated in 2023 that he had seen no evidence of any program involved in the reverse engineering of extraterrestrial UAP.
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