The November 2024 Congressional Hearings on UAP: Another Step in Congress’s Long, Painful Disclosure Odyssey

On November 13, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Accountability’s Subcommittees on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation and on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs convened a joint public hearing to address Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. This was the second such public hearing in less than two years. The hearing, titled “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth,” aimed to delve into the depths of government transparency, potential national security risks, and the truth behind decades of speculation and secrecy surrounding UAPs. The hearing marked another important step in the process of what could be the unraveling of the secrecy surrounding UFOs.

Witnesses who testified at the hearing included Dr. Tim Gallaudet: Retired Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, and Chief Executive Officer, Ocean STL Consulting; Luis Elizondo: Author and Former Department of Defense Official; Mr. Michael Shellenberger: Founder of Public; and, Mr. Michael Gold: Former NASA Associate Administrator of Space Policy.

Dr. Tim Gallaudet testified about his experience as the commander of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command when he first learned about UAPs in January 2015. He stated that his personnel participated in a pre-deployment naval exercise off the U.S. East Coast. During this exercise, personnel observed UAPs, leading Gallaudet to advocate for greater transparency from the U.S. government.

He also spoke about an incident involving the USS Omaha, where watch-standers on the bridge observed a UAP with no observable exhaust or control surfaces. Gallaudet noted that this UAP could not be explained. He revealed that he had met with the DoD’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), where he felt subjected to an hours-long influence operation. During this uncomfortable meeting, AARO personnel attempted to convince him of the validity of flawed historical records and discredit valid UAP reports like the Tic Tac incident. Gallaudet stated his belief that the Federal Government is knowingly concealing evidence about UAPs from the public.

Luis Elizondo, a former Department of Defense official, emphasized the need for immediate public transparency on the UAP topic. He stated that many of his former colleagues and he have provided classified testimony to the Department of Defense and the intelligence community Inspector General. Elizondo claimed that many of them have been targeted by a cabal with threats to their careers, security clearances, and even their lives22.

Elizondo proposed three principal actions to address these problems: (1) Congress and the President should create a single point of contact responsible for a whole-of-government approach to the UAP issue; (2) Congress should provide more funding to UAP efforts; and, (3) Congress should create a protected environment so whistleblowers can come forward without fear.

Elizondo stated that he had signed a document limiting his ability to discuss crash retrieval. According to Elizondo, the document stated, “You can continue saying X, Y, Z, but you cannot discuss the topic of crash retrieval”. He also expressed his belief that the Pentagon and the intelligence community are treating the public like children and that it is time for the public to know the truth.

During the hearing, Elizondo stated his belief that the Federal Government is knowingly concealing evidence about UAPs from the public.

Michael Shellenberger, founder of ‘Public’, discussed recent revelations about a purportedly secret UAP program whose existence and findings may have been improperly withheld from Congress5. He presented a document from the Pentagon about Immaculate Constellation, which he delivered to Congress.

Shellenberger highlighted the credibility of UAP witnesses and whistleblowers, noting that political leaders from both parties have vouched for them26. He referenced former President Donald Trump’s statements about having access to information about UAPs that the government has not released.

Shellenberger also noted that UAP whistleblowers have claimed the government retaliated against them and tried to stop them from going public. He testified that the person who authored the report he referenced claimed that the Executive Branch has been managing UAP/NHI issues without Congressional knowledge, oversight, or authorization for decades. Shellenberger stated his belief that the Federal Government is knowingly concealing evidence about UAPs from the public.

Michael Gold, a former NASA official, advocated for leveraging the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) to collect UAP data. He noted that ASRS has collected nearly 2 million reports over 47 years and is the perfect tool to collect UAP data, which could then be collated by NASA and shared with the public. Gold suggested that leveraging ASRS could create a treasure trove of UAP data, potentially hundreds of thousands of reports supporting the hearing’s goal of exposing the truth. Gold urged the Subcommittees to keep in mind the numerous ways that NASA and the FAA, as well as commercial activities in the air, in space, and in the water, can generate a massive amount of invaluable data on anomalous phenomena. He also expressed his belief that the Federal Government is knowingly concealing evidence about UAPs from the public.

Shellenberger’s written statement to the committee highlighted additional evidence, incidents and witnesses related to UAPs:

Pilot Reporting: Aircrew have photographed UAPs.

Roswell Incident: In 1947, the editor of the Roswell Morning Dispatch claimed that Lt. Walter Haut delivered a press release declaring the recovery of a “flying saucer”.

1948 Crash near Laredo, TX: An anonymous retired Col. stated that a UAP crash occurred near Laredo, TX, in 1948, and witnesses were sworn to secrecy.

1953 Recovered Bodies at Wright Patterson Air Force Base: An anonymous former Warrant Officer in the Army claimed he saw crates at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in 1953 with recovered bodies of small humanoids.

1954 U.S. Navy Directive: The U.S. Navy issued a new directive that orders the reporting of UAP sightings to various intelligence and command officers to stop leaks from Navy and Marine personnel.

1956 Shoot Down Orders: Alleged unnamed U.S. Navy pilots at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos told news reporters they have orders to shoot down hostile UAP.

1958 Air Force Briefing: The Air Force briefed Reps. Henderson, Cramer, Magnuson, Walker and their staffs to assist them in dealing with constituent inquiries related to UAP. Briefing notes show the management of “unfavorable public hysteria” was discussed.

1958 Gag Order: A group of 50 commercial airline pilots who have seen UAP told a reporter the Air Force policy of denial is like “Big Brother.” They say the gag order of talking about sightings by penalty of 10 years in prison or $10,000 fine is “nuts”.

1966 Project Blue Book: USAF Maj. Hector Quintanilla told the House Armed Services Committee that Project Blue Book had “no radar cases which are unexplained.” Declassified records show this is a lie.

1966 Mysterious Group of Scientists: Jacques Vallee stated he and colleagues received a letter from an aerospace engineer asking them to send their 20 best cases to a “mysterious group of scientists” from Wright Field. This was not Project Blue Book but something else.

1978 CIA Studies: Brad Sparks and Todd Zechel claimed the CIA conducted “emergency” studies of UAP in 1952, 1957, 1965 and 1967 in secret utilizing Domestic Contact Service agents during a number of UAP flaps.

1979 Oregon Crash: Anonymous informant claims in a forested area in southeastern Oregon near the Idaho border, near a hunter campsite, a UAP crash allegedly occurred.

1980 Forged Letter: AFOSI counterintelligence officer Richard C. Doty delivers a forged anonymous letter to U.S. civilian UAP investigative organization APRO.

1989 Arthur Exon: Commanding Officer of WPAFB Brig. Gen. Arthur Exon states “the Unholy Thirteen” was a UFO controlling committee in the 1950s and states he was told Roswell was recovery of an “alien” spacecraft.

1991 Dick D’Amato: Senior staff counsel to Sen. Robert Byrd, Dick D’Amato, tells Jacques Vallee: “what that stealthy group is doing is a felony…for a government employee to knowingly disseminate false information to the public is an offense that should send him to jail.

1991 Sappho Henderson: Sappho Henderson, the wife of Oliver W. Henderson, states in an affidavit that her husband in 1980-1981 picked up a newspaper at a grocery store in San Diego and saw an article describing a crash of a UFO outside Roswell with bodies of aliens; she states he told her “I want you to read this article, because it’s a true story.

1996 Dan Morris: USAF Master Sgt. Dan Morris, alleged NRO operative, states: “I became part of a group that would investigate, gather the information, and in the beginning it was still under the Blue Book, Snowbird and different covert programs.

1997 Jonathan Weygandt: USMC Lance Corporal Jonathan Weygandt states he was sent to a crash recovery of a UAP crashed into the side of a cliff that was made of a strange metal that had no reflection. Weygandt claims he was detained, threatened and told not to talk about the incident by unknown men.

2002 Richard Niemtzow: Richard Niemtzow tells Jacques Vallee he was recruited to join a secret McDonnell study on UAP but declined.

2005 Victor Martinez: Victor Martinez, a civilian who runs an internet message board for retired intelligence community people interested in UAP, receives what alleges to be a 3,000-page report compiled by the Defense Intelligence Agency in the 1970s classified Top Secret.

2010 Robert Salas: Former USAF Capt. Robert Salas, missile targeting officer Robert C. Jamison, Col. Charles I. Halt, Navy Intelligence Command Master Chief Southwest Region Patrick McDonough, Lt. Col. Dwynne C. Arneson and Capt. Bruce Fenstermacher write affidavits that state UAP can neutralize nuclear missiles at U.S. and Russian bases.

2021 Ross Coulthart: Australian journalist Ross Coulthart states sources who provided UAP information for his recently published book have gone quiet. Coulthart states there is a clandestine “intensive effort to shut people up,” adding his sources are now “terrified” when he calls them.

2022 Christopher Sharp: Journalist Christopher Sharp states sources inside the Department of Defense and intelligence community told him certain Congressional committees have been privy to information he’s been told “has been life changing”.

2022 George Knapp: Journalist George Knapp states he knows of at least four “legacy programs” that dealt with UAP issues that he believes whistleblowers are speaking to when they will refer their testimony to AARO.

2022 John Ramirez: Ret. CIA official John Ramirez states several new pieces of information in an interview including: that he was told of a compartmented area of the Navy as sensitive as the Manhattan project that may be UAP related.

2023 Ross Coulthart: Journalist Ross Coulthart states on a podcast that there are people “involved in high level physics” who worked in Huntsville, AL and disappeared. Coulthart says BAE Systems deserves a very close look because of “who they’ve taken over”.

Shellenberger also revealed the name of an active and highly secretive DOD “Unacknowledged Special Access Program,” or USAP. The source of the document told Public that the USAP is a “strategic intelligence program” that is part of the US military’s family of long-standing, highly-sensitive programs dealing with various aspects of the UAP ‘problem’”.

The hearing saw overwhelming bipartisan support, with members from both sides of the aisle emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability. Chairwoman Nancy Mace (R-SC)2, Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-CA)9, and other committee members, including Representatives Tim Burchett (R-TN), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), and Eric Burlison (R-MO), voiced their commitment to uncovering the truth behind UAPs and ensuring that the American people are informed.

Ominously, Mace stated that some individuals did not want the hearing to occur because they feared what might be disclosed. Garcia emphasized that transparency and faith in institutions are vital in a good democracy. Representative Grothman (R-WI) expressed his hope that the witnesses would provide worthwhile evidence to illuminate government waste and increase transparency.

Several members noted the importance of the hearing in light of recent reports and revelations about UAP programs and sightings. They stressed the need to cut through misinformation and have a serious, thoughtful discussion in public. They also acknowledged the interest and important information gained from classified briefings on the topic.

Several key themes and revelations emerged throughout the hearing:

Overclassification and Withholding of Information: Witnesses and committee members expressed concerns about the overclassification of UAP-related information and the reluctance of government agencies to declassify relevant documents14…. They argued that this secrecy hinders the ability to effectively address UAPs and erodes trust in institutions18…. Elizondo stated that the continued over-classification surrounding UAPs has not only hindered the ability to effectively address these phenomena but has also eroded trust in institutions.

Disinformation Campaigns and Attacks on Whistleblowers: The hearing also addressed allegations that elements of the government are engaged in disinformation campaigns, including personal attacks designed to discredit UAP whistleblowers. Gallaudet claimed that last year’s UAP hearing before the Oversight Committee confirmed that UAP-related information is being withheld and that elements of the government are engaging in a disinformation campaign, to include personal attacks designed to discredit UAP whistleblowers.

Lack of a Safe and Effective Reporting System: Witnesses highlighted the lack of a safe and confidential reporting system for UAP sightings, particularly for civilian pilots12…. They noted that the stigma surrounding UAPs and fear of retaliation discourage pilots from reporting incidents, limiting the ability to understand the phenomena.

The Need for a Comprehensive Approach: Witnesses and committee members emphasized the need for a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to addressing UAPs, involving multiple agencies and departments26…. They called for increased oversight of the executive branch’s management of UAP information and the establishment of an independent UAP records review board.

Potential National Security Implications: The hearing underscored the potential national security implications of UAPs, with witnesses raising concerns about the capabilities and origins of these phenomena. They stressed the importance of protecting the country, advancing scientific discovery, and upholding the trust of the American people.

International Coordination: Luna referenced specific treaties between governments31. Article 3 of the nuclear arms treaty with Russia identifies UAPs. There are safety measures in place with foreign governments or other superpowers to avoid an escalatory situation in the event that a UAP malevolent event occurs.

Much of the historical record of UAP events and investigations remains classified. Examination of the available public record, though, shows a number of trends. For example, there is documentation of high-level interest in UAP as early as the 1940s. In 1947, USAF Lt. Gen. Nathan F. Twining wrote that flying discs are “real and not visionary or fictitious”. Twining suggested UAP could be a black budget USG project or from the Soviet/Bloc. Twining’s letter to AAF Commanding Gen. George Schulgen states no physical UAP evidence from “crash recovered exhibits” had been found.

USAF Public Information Officer Albert M. Chop claimed the CIA “killed” a press release written up on a UAP filmed in Utah. Chop added, “We’ve been ordered [by the CIA] to work up a national debunking campaign, planting articles in magazines and arranging broadcasts to make UFO reports seem like poppycock”.

In 1958, USAF Director of Information Services Maj. Gen. Arno Luehman wrote he had informal discussions with the Senate Committee on Investigating Government Operations that “there is no need” for hearings on the UAP subject45. The USAF wrote that it is attempting to guide the Subcommittee to issue a statement certifying the Air Force is properly conducting its UAP investigation and not withholding information from the public. These conclusions were reached as a result of informal meetings and zero investigation was performed.

In 1958, a group of 50 commercial airline pilots who had seen UAP told a reporter the Air Force policy of denial is like “Big Brother”. They said the gag order of talking about sightings by penalty of 10 years in prison or $10,000 fine (JANAP 146) is “nuts”.

An alleged one-page memo from President Kennedy to DCI states he requests a review of MJ-12 operations as they relate to Cold War psychological warfare plans. Meanwhile, an internal NASA memo admits the agency is running a UAP hard evidence analysis program “UFOHEAP” that collects alleged materials from UAP for NASA analysis.

In 1978, NORAD replied to a FOIA request for UAP tracking data that a search will require over 18,000 man hours and cost $294,15749. In 1989, USAF Capt. Richard P. Osedacz wrote that a database of UAP in near-Earth orbit exists and has existed since at least 1972. UAP events tracked by NORAD are termed “fastwalkers”.

The hearing ended with a call to action for increased transparency, further investigation, and a commitment to uncovering the truth behind UAPs. Committee members emphasized the need to work together in a bipartisan manner to address this important issue and ensure the safety and security of the nation. They also stressed the importance of protecting whistleblowers and encouraging more reporting of UAP sightings. The hearing marks a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to understand UAPs, their origins and purpose, and the potential implications.

By exposing the truth and demanding transparency, Congress apparently aims to restore faith in government institutions and advance scientific discovery for the benefit of all. However, it remains to be seen whether Congressional efforts will be successful at exposing the truth about UAP and NHI. Thus far, the Pentagon has maintained an iron grip on the information despite notable efforts. One thing is certain. Even more startling information about UAP will be coming in the days ahead. Whether the Pentagon and its corporate sponsors ever admit the reality and presence of NHI is another question entirely.