The administration of Donald Trump on Friday unveiled a fresh cache of previously classified documents, videos and photographs linked to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs), popularly known as UFOs, in what officials described as one of the biggest transparency drives on extraterrestrial investigations in U.S. history.
In a statement released by the White House, the disclosure was made under a new programme tagged the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE), aimed at granting the public direct access to decades of secret government records on unexplained aerial sightings.
According to the White House, the newly released files compile materials gathered from various U.S. government agencies without the need for security clearance.
“The latest UAP videos, photos and original source documents from across the United States government are now accessible in one place,” the statement said.
The administration accused previous governments of suppressing or dismissing public interest in UFO-related information, insisting that the current policy prioritises openness and public scrutiny.
Friday’s release is expected to be the first phase of a broader declassification exercise.
Among the most striking revelations are photographs allegedly captured during the Apollo 12 mission and Apollo 17 mission lunar expeditions.
One image taken from the moon’s surface reportedly appears to show three unidentified objects hovering in space.
Also included were transcripts of communications between Apollo 17 astronauts and mission control discussing strange objects spotted during the mission.
One transcript quoted an operator describing “very bright particles or fragments” drifting past the spacecraft during manoeuvres, while another referred to “jagged, angular fragments tumbling” nearby.
The newly opened files also contain Federal Bureau of Investigation photographs allegedly showing unidentified flying objects close to U.S. military aircraft during New Year’s Eve celebrations in 1999.
The disclosures come months after former U.S. President Barack Obama stirred controversy during a podcast interview in which he hinted at the existence of extraterrestrial phenomena.
Trump had criticised Obama at the time, accusing him of publicly discussing classified information.
“He gave classified information. He’s not supposed to be doing that,” Trump told reporters in February. “I don’t know if they’re real or not, but he revealed classified information.”
Shortly after, Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that his administration would begin releasing secret files connected to UFOs, extraterrestrial life and unexplained aerial encounters.
Several senior U.S. officials praised Friday’s disclosure as a major shift toward government transparency.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said years of secrecy had only deepened public suspicion.
“These files have remained buried behind classifications for decades, fueling speculation. Americans deserve to examine the evidence themselves,” he said.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed that multiple intelligence agencies were now collaborating on further declassification efforts.
“This is only the beginning of a sustained joint release initiative,” Gabbard stated.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the development as a “historic release of UAP records,” saying the public now had unrestricted access to materials once hidden from view.
Meanwhile, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency would continue to examine unexplained sightings through scientific research and data analysis.
“At NASA, we follow the evidence wherever it leads,” Isaacman said. “We will remain transparent about what we know, what we do not yet understand, and what still remains undiscovered.”
