The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a hearing on Nov. 13 where they heard testimony about unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), which are more commonly known as unidentified flying objects (UFOs).
The hearing, titled “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth,” was opened up by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who made clear that the goal of the hearing was to gain an understanding of the extent of the Pentagon’s UAP investigations and any known information about alien life forms and alien technology.
“Why the secrecy if it’s really no big deal and there’s nothing there? Why hide it from the American people?” Mace challenged.
Luis Elizondo, a former Pentagon insider, accused a group of government employees of blocking the public from the whole truth about UAPs. He also said that the U.S. government has secret retrieval programs, which were first exposed last year by Pentagon whistleblower David Grusch.
“Excessive secrecy has led to grave misdeeds against loyal civil servants, military personnel, and the public, all to hide the fact that we are not alone in the cosmos,” Elizondo said.
Elizondo also expressed “frustration” that UAP technology is more advanced than any that the United States. currently has.
Grusch’s 2023 revelations about the secret retrieval program brought international media attention to the mystery surrounding UAPs, which has intrigued curious minds for over a century, and longer.
On Nov. 12, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) introduced the UAP Whistleblower Protection Act, which “would provide protections to whistleblowers who bring attention to federal funding that is being used to study UAPs.”
Burchett launched the bipartisan Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Caucus in Aug. 2023.
“Our government spends tens of millions of dollars on looking into UAPs, yet when someone wants to bring something forward, members of our government want to shut it down,” Burchett said. “People who want to bring the truth to light should be protected.”
Retired Navy Rear Adm. Timothy Gallaudet also testified on Nov. 13 that a 2015 video, known as “Go Fast,” was somehow removed from the email server he and his colleagues used.
“Go Fast” features fighter pilots following a UAP over the ocean, unable to identify what it is they’re seeing, and amazed at the technology.
Journalist Michael Shellenberger also said he had been informed about the existence of a secret government program that details every known UAP encounter. The program is allegedly known as “Immaculate Constellation.“
Lawmakers are hoping that their formal inquiries will finally help give the public answers as to whether or not we’re really alone in the universe, and also rebuild public trust through transparency in the government.
“Declassifying reports and fostering a more open dialogue about UAPs will not only increase the public trust, but also encourage collaboration between government, the scientific community, and our allies,” said Rep Glenn Grotham (R–Wis.). “Quite frankly, there’s been things that have been kept secret that [are], I think, old enough that there is no reason it shouldn’t be released.”