Wednesday. Among them was a former Air Force intelligence officer, who made startling claims about a secret U.S. government program. According to him, the government has been engaged in “multi-decade” reverse engineering of retrieved vessels. Moreover, he revealed that non-human “biologics” have been recovered from alleged crash sites.
While the idea of “little green men” did come up, the focus of the discussion revolved more around enhancing reporting processes for unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) – the military’s term for UFOs. Interestingly, the definition of UAP has expanded to include “anomalous” phenomena to accommodate sightings in both air and water.
Among the key points raised were the efforts to remove the stigma associated with aviators who report UAP sightings and to establish proper oversight of government programs investigating such incidents.
Retired Maj. David Grusch, who was formerly part of the Pentagon’s UAP Task Force but later became a whistleblower, addressed the House Oversight Committee’s national security subcommittee. He disclosed being denied access to certain government UFO programs, yet asserted that he possesses precise knowledge about the locations of UAPs in U.S. possession.
Throughout the hearing, Grusch evaded lawmakers’ questions, stating that he could only provide further details in a SCIF (sensitive compartmented information facility). This occurred when he was asked about the government’s potential contact with aliens and whether there were any cover-ups involving “extraterrestrial technology” leading to murders. Grusch refrained from commenting on these matters.
The former intelligence officer also revealed to the panel that he and several colleagues had become targets of what he termed “administrative terrorism.” Since coming forward, he admitted to fearing for his life at times.
“It was a very brutal and unfortunate situation. I was subjected to tactics that caused both professional and personal harm,” he stated, pointing out that an ongoing investigation is currently looking into the matter.
UAP sightings are not rare or isolated
During the subcommittee hearing, former Navy fighter pilot Ryan Graves and retired Cmdr. David Fravor testified about their encounters with aircraft of unexplained origin.
Graves recounted a specific incident that took place off the coast of Virginia Beach in 2014. While piloting an F-18, he came across an aircraft that appeared to be a “dark gray or black cube inside of a clear sphere.” The object’s estimated size ranged from five to 15 feet in diameter, and it was unlike any known aircraft he had encountered before. The most astonishing aspect was its ability to remain stationary despite facing hurricane-force winds.
Graves informed lawmakers that his squadron submitted a safety report at the time, but no official acknowledgment of the incident was received. He emphasized that UAP encounters in that region were not rare or isolated occurrences.
Subsequently, Graves founded “Americans for Safe Aerospace,” a group dedicated to supporting aviators who have reported UAP sightings. According to him, the objects observed by military and commercial pilots exhibit maneuvers that defy explanation within the context of our current technological understanding and the country’s capabilities.
“If everyone could witness the sensor and video data that I saw, our national conversation would undoubtedly change,” Graves added.
“Incredible technology” unlike anything we have
Retired Navy Cmdr. David Fravor provided the panel with a chilling firsthand account of a UAP encounter that occurred in 2004, a video of which was later released to the public by the Pentagon in 2020.
Fravor recounted the mesmerizing moment when he and three other service members witnessed a white, “Tic Tac”-shaped flying object emerge over the San Diego coast in California.
“There were no rotors, no rotor wash, or any visible flight control surfaces like wings,” he described, referring to the UAP’s appearance.
As they attempted to approach the enigmatic craft, it astonishingly accelerated and vanished right in front of their aircraft, leaving no trace of turbulence.
“The technology we encountered was far superior to anything we had,” Fravor emphasized. “I’m not a UFO fanatic, but what we saw with four sets of eyes—there’s nothing even remotely comparable to it. It was an incredible display of technology.”
Fravor revealed that it took several years before any officials followed up on the extraordinary events of that day. Even then, he added, “nothing was done.”
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Gasps from the overflow room
The highly anticipated hearing was open to the public, and eager individuals waited for hours to secure a spot in attendance.
A 22-year-old from New York City, who wished to remain anonymous due to the existing stigma surrounding the subject, expressed to NPR that he made plans to be present, recognizing the potential historic significance of the event.
From an overflow room housing around 100 other intrigued spectators, he attentively observed as Grusch, Graves, and Fravor, all men with extensive military careers, shared their remarkable experiences.
Admittedly, their stories might seem fantastical when taken out of context, but given the credentials of these three witnesses, the anonymous attendee stated that he now believes in the veracity of their accounts.
He further revealed that there was a gasp among the audience when Grusch discussed the retrieval of non-human biologics, and a similar response followed when Grusch mentioned the personal retaliation he had faced.
You can watch the hearing here:
Why now?
The hearing marks Congress’ latest effort to exert pressure on intelligence agencies for greater transparency regarding UAPs, asserting that they pose a matter of national security.
Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of California emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “UAPs, whatever they may be, may pose a serious threat to our military and civilian aircraft, and that must be understood. We should encourage more reporting, not less, on UAPs. The more we understand, the safer we will be.”
Grusch, Graves, and Fravor echoed similar sentiments, advocating for a “safe and transparent” centralized reporting system. They expressed hope that the public discourse would help eliminate the stigma surrounding UAP reports, thus encouraging others to come forward with their experiences.
Graves, the former Navy pilot, revealed that only approximately 5% of UAP sightings are reported to the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
He urged the need to set aside stigma and address the security and safety implications associated with this topic. Graves emphasized that if UAPs are foreign drones, it constitutes an urgent national security problem. Alternatively, if they represent something else, it becomes a matter for scientific inquiry. Nonetheless, in either case, unidentified objects raise concerns for flight safety. He concluded by stating that the American people deserve to know what is happening in their skies, and that such disclosure is long overdue.
Since its establishment in the previous summer, the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office has received a total of 366 reports related to UAPs.
