JPL UFO

Congress faces difficult choices on an issue that isn’t on the radar of most Americans. The phenomenon wasn’t an issue in the just concluded election cycle. It has been a subject seldom discussed and fraught with challenges, so most politicians shy away from it. There is little personal political benefit that attaches to it. Yet, it has arisen organically from the Navy pilot reports that cannot be explained through conventional means. These pilots came forward because the disturbing capabilities of core UAP that were ignored by their superiors. Academia, public policy think tanks, and other traditional policy sources have also marginalized the subject for decades.

Yet, the some of the most serious-minded Senators from both parties, on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, have united to champion this cause. Despite their collective efforts, they have been routinely ignored by the agencies and service branches who are otherwise dedicated to protect the homeland. Highly trained pilots have given sworn testimony of maneuvers that cannot be performed by aircraft using traditional chemical propellants. Many of these core UAP sightings have been captured by multiple sensors each showing consistent data, making one question how multiple sensor platforms independently show the same mysterious phenomenon. Could they all be malfunctioning? They are showing the same objects from different angles while set in a variety of modes.

In the 2004 Nimitz “tic tac” case, this sensor data is no longer available. Former AARO Director Shawn Kirkpatrick claims this data was recycled shortly after these remarkable incidents.[1] Despite the extraordinary nature of these encounters, he claimed nobody saved the data. However, personnel who were present in the Nimitz Carrier Group have a different recollection.[2] These personnel explained how they were required to turn over the sensor data to unknown personnel and many have spoken about it prior to Kirkpatrick’s unverified claim. This disconnect between what the DoD claims and what soldiers, sailors, and airmen actually say, when they are free to talk, has been present since at least the 1940s. AARO’s take on the phenomenon is no different than Project Blue Book or other DoD public-facing programs that have looked into the subject. For these reasons, Congress should expect that it will either have to drop the subject altogether or just soldier on without DoD help.

This dilemma isn’t just about Flying Saucers. It is about who controls the government purse strings in a constitutional republic. It is about who is allowed to monitor government programs. It is also about the unintended consequences when unknown corporate executives and mid-level government employees have more control over sensitive issues than properly cleared oversight committees. Although through declassified records, we do see glimpses of these rogue elements acting without oversight or normal guardrails.

One place that Congress can seek help is the White House. While Congress can continue this battle with known and unknown forces in government and the private sector alone, having the President as a partner in the ultimate bureaucratic struggle would be a valuable asset. Through both leadership and bipartisan power-sharing, the President can assist with this congressional oversight effort. Our current President has always been a believer in reaching across the aisle. President Biden can boost this effort by partnering, before the end of his term, with Congress on a subject that has been bipartisan since Senators Reid, Stevens, and Inouye partnered in 2007. Our incoming President should do the same.

While UAP bipartisanship hasn’t always been smooth, it is the best hope for convincing the public that the ultimate conclusions reached by Congress will be accepted by a broad swath of the public. Polling shows that the public is equally divided on the subject. Most will have to be convinced, especially considering that the majority of the public believes the government has lied about the phenomenon. President Biden’s cooperation, prior to leaving office, would make the burden easier for Congress and the next President. The adoption of an Executive order or a Presidential Policy Directive, requiring compliance with adopted UAP laws will signal to the bureaucracy that greater legal compliance is a necessity.

A bipartisan approach that includes White House cooperation will make it easier for rank and file members to go through a pre-public release briefing process about the source of UAP. As long as the Administration shares information that the White House has shared equally with both parties, the implementation process will have a greater chance of succeeding.

Once the agreed upon hearing process begins, bipartisan participation in the process will be reassuring to the public. Minimizing defections from the process will be difficult, particularly in the House. As the process unfolds, dissidents will be harder to offer alternative reasons for what the public is seeing with their own eyes. A hearing process where the vast majority of congressional membership are working together will increase the odds of a successful transition.

This paper has outlined a difficult process to follow. It will not be easy. Yet, other scenarios will create more uncertainty. Whatever process is used, one of the key elements of a successful roll out will be having the truth on your side. This is usually the cornerstone of any successful public information strategy.[3] Congress must follow the evidence and make recommendations accordingly. Any hint of obfuscation will doom the process. This paper has assumed that the ultimate result will be a finding of a non-terrestrial presence on this planet. However, Congress must convince itself with testimony and supporting data. No outside source of information should be relied upon without diligent inquiry.

For the purposes of this paper, the non-terrestrial probability has been the main focus. So far, other possibilities have been found lacking, even according to the Navy’s UAPTF.[4] Core UAP have shown no evidence of being caused by a terrestrial foreign adversary, ally, or defense contractor.[5] Explanations of atmospheric phenomenon do not explain multiple sensor cases that also have multiple witnesses. With AARO replacing the UAPTF, these cases are now ignored, with sensor errors being their last hope for an explanation. It helps explain the exponential increase in mundane explanations when AARO changed the focus of inquiry after replacing UAPTF. The change in analysis methods helped AARO raise its “batting average.” However, using this Project Blue Book approach will not answer questions, when AARO continues to ignore core UAP cases.

From 1949 onwards, this has been the official approach of the Pentagon. Declassified records show that there has been an organized effort to ignore serious cases and use ridicule and other improper means to quash opposition to the 80+ year DoD narrative.[6] These clandestine efforts alone show that we must include a non-terrestrial possibility in the analysis.

Failing to prepare for a potential non-terrestrial source of UAP risks this discovery coming out in an uncoordinated manner, thereby risking severe consequences. Passing this “buck” onto future generations risks a catastrophic disclosure, which will heighten anxiety and risk the rise of Joseph McCarthy-like demigods to exploit the situation. Considering that future administrations will be focusing an increasing amount of their time and effort on climate change-related disasters and emerging military challenges, the future does not look like a more promising time to wait to announce a non-terrestrial presence. In fact, the current “drone” dilemma may speed these revelatory disclosures. This broad question has been with us for decades. As an example of how politicians have kicked the can down the road, the late Senator Richard Russell (D-Ga.) helped put this issue off.  In 1955, he was part of an American delegation on a train traveling through the Soviet Union.  According to staffers traveling with him, he saw two saucer-shaped objects pass over the countryside.  Immediately thereafter, one of the Soviet officials rushed into the American delegation’s coach car and shut the curtains.  Later, a reporter asked Senator Russell to comment on the incident and he responded:

“I have discussed this matter with the affected agencies, and they are of the opinion that it is not wise to publicize this matter at this time.” [7]

The question becomes when is the “time” to discuss this phenomenon?  It has been 70 years since Senator Russell made this statement. The UFO/UAP phenomenon has not gone away, yet the policy remains the same.  The public government policy is that all UFO/UAP reports are made by people who are mistaken, fabricating, or delusional.  UFO/UAPs are unworthy of serious study.  Yet, the same subject is classified at the highest levels and FOIA requests for information about 80-year-old events are still heavily redacted.  It is a striking contradiction.  The phenomenon is not real, but access to information is highly classified.  Congressional inquiries have been rejected since World War II. 

It will be difficult to cobble together a bipartisan coalition but consider the alternative. When a pilot can take a picture of a UAP and have it circulated the world wide web within hours, older tactics used to “kick the can down the road” are wearing thin. Calling UAP “drones” will not solve the problem. A revelation of the reality of UAP by an adversary will sow more distrust in our government. Our President and Congress have the ability to take control of this situation and limit disruption. UAP don’t seem to be going away so now is the time to act.

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[1] https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/09/pentagon-ufo-boss-steps-down-after-explosive-admission-19798857/; https://thedebrief.org/pentagon-confirms-retirement-of-aaro-director-sean-kirkpatrick-as-new-deputy-director-is-named/.

[2] Navy UFO | UFO Sightings | The Truth About the Navy’s UFOs (popularmechanics.com).

[3] i.e., In Case of Emergency | The New Yorker.

[4] Prelimary-Assessment-UAP-20210625.pdf (dni.gov).

[5] Ibid @ pp. 3, 5-6.

[6] Lough, James P., Threat to the Body Politic: Foo Fighters to UAP, Ingram Spark (2024).

[7] https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/578055/Senior-US-senator-s-report-TWO-UFOs-covered-up-secret-documents.