Trump’s UFO Order — Hope, Skepticism And Hard Limits

President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon and other government agencies this week to begin identifying and releasing government files related to alien life, UAPs and UFOs. According to DefenseScoop, Trump posted on social media Thursday that based on what he called tremendous public interest, he would order Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and relevant agencies to begin the process. 

Dr. Steven Greer, founder of the Disclosure Project, told Newsmax that this moment is different from previous presidential promises under Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, citing direct White House briefings his organization has conducted and key information reaching cabinet-level officials since Trump took office. Greer confirmed he has written a draft presidential address on extraterrestrial disclosure and advised the administration not to be caught behind the curve if information surfaces through other countries or channels first. 

Not everyone shares that optimism. Per reporting from DefenseScoop, Retired Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, a former Navy oceanographer who has testified before Congress on UAP topics, stated he will believe it when he sees results, referencing Trump’s mixed record on follow-through.

 Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, who leads the Galileo Project and has briefed Congress, offered a practical first step — reference DefenseScoop — recommending the immediate declassification of events from 50 years ago, arguing that technologies from half a century ago are no longer strategically sensitive and their release could significantly advance scientific research. 

Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna provided what may be the most concrete public statement to emerge from the week’s coverage. According to her Fox News appearance, Luna has meetings scheduled with both the FBI and the Department of Defense to push for a specific list of over 20 documents that she says agencies are currently housing and have previously denied to members of Congress. She confirmed she is waiting on an official declassification order before releasing FBI briefing material to the public, and stated that certain things witnessed in classified briefings cannot be explained — adding that multiple members of her task force were present and saw the same thing. 

Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee and has access to classified UAP reports, told Fox News this week that while the classified versions are more detailed than public reports, they are equally disappointing in terms of definitive answers. He confirmed there is plenty of evidence of anomalous behavior that cannot be explained, while stopping short of drawing extraterrestrial conclusions and warning that some individuals operating in this space are simply not telling the truth. 

Christopher Mellon, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for intelligence and current chair of the Disclosure Foundation’s board, acknowledged that classification barriers, institutional caution, and bureaucratic resistance are real obstacles — but said a presidential directive carries more authority than a congressional reporting requirement and, if pursued in good faith, could gain momentum and break down remaining walls of secrecy. 

Sources

Fox News. (2026, February 22). ARE THEY OUT THERE?: Trump directs release of NEW files on aliens [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccoZmjT9abc

MS NOW. (2026, February 22). Neil deGrasse Tyson reacts to Trump ordering release of UFO files: ‘Just bring out the alien!’ [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djVeUoruWY8

MyLordBebo [@MyLordBebo]. (2026, February 22). [Video attached]. X. https://x.com/MyLordBebo/status/2025556043397292406

Newsmax. (2026, February 21). Dr. Steven Greer Predicts Major Disclosure on Extraterrestrial Life Under Trump [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBN3E2dPfJ0

Vincent, B. (2026, February 20). Transparency proponents meet Trump’s UAP disclosure tease with hope — and caution. DefenseScoop. https://defensescoop.com/2026/02/20/trump-ufo-uap-government-files-disclosure/