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Defense Secretary Hegseth Leads Trump‑Ordered UFO File Hunt With No Release Date

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  • WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration’s core economic policy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
    WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration’s core economic policy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration’s core economic policy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Source Full size
  • US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One before taking off from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 19, 2026. Trump is travelling to Rome, Georgia to visit local businesses and give remarks about the economy at a steel factory. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One before taking off from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 19, 2026. Trump is travelling to Rome, Georgia to visit local businesses and give remarks about the economy at a steel factory. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One before taking off from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 19, 2026. Trump is travelling to Rome, Georgia to visit local businesses and give remarks about the economy at a steel factory. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at Blue Origin in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 2, 2026. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP via Getty Images)
    US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at Blue Origin in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 2, 2026. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at Blue Origin in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 2, 2026. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • US President Donald Trump gestures at the end of his speech after touring the Coosa Steel Corporation factory in Rome, Georgia, February 19, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    US President Donald Trump gestures at the end of his speech after touring the Coosa Steel Corporation factory in Rome, Georgia, February 19, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    US President Donald Trump gestures at the end of his speech after touring the Coosa Steel Corporation factory in Rome, Georgia, February 19, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at Blue Origin in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 2, 2026. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP via Getty Images)
    US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at Blue Origin in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 2, 2026. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at Blue Origin in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 2, 2026. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration’s core economic policy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
    WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration’s core economic policy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration’s core economic policy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Source Full size
  • US President Donald Trump gestures at the end of his speech after touring the Coosa Steel Corporation factory in Rome, Georgia, February 19, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    US President Donald Trump gestures at the end of his speech after touring the Coosa Steel Corporation factory in Rome, Georgia, February 19, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    US President Donald Trump gestures at the end of his speech after touring the Coosa Steel Corporation factory in Rome, Georgia, February 19, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One before taking off from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 19, 2026. Trump is travelling to Rome, Georgia to visit local businesses and give remarks about the economy at a steel factory. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One before taking off from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 19, 2026. Trump is travelling to Rome, Georgia to visit local businesses and give remarks about the economy at a steel factory. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One before taking off from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 19, 2026. Trump is travelling to Rome, Georgia to visit local businesses and give remarks about the economy at a steel factory. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size

Trump Orders Pentagon and Agencies to Disclose UFO Records President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Feb 19‑20 2026 directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the “Secretary of War” to locate and release all government files on unidentified aerial phenomena, extraterrestrial life, and related matters, citing “tremendous interest” and accusing former President Barack Obama of improperly revealing classified alien comments [1][2][3][4][5][6]. He stated he holds no personal opinion on alien existence while emphasizing transparency for the American public [3][5].

AARO Reports Thousands of UAP Cases but No Alien Proof The Pentagon’s All‑Domain Anomaly Resolution Office reported 1,652 UAP reports through 2024, attributing most sightings to balloons, drones, birds, or debris and finding no verifiable extraterrestrial technology [4]. An earlier 2024 unclassified congressional report documented 485 military UFO reports, also concluding no alien evidence, highlighting a discrepancy in case counts between the two releases [6]. AARO director Jon Kosloski noted that a handful of incidents remain “interesting” and beyond current scientific explanation [4].

Hegseth Confirms Retrieval Effort Is Underway, Timeline Unset In a Feb 24 C‑SPAN interview, Hegseth said the disclosure task was unexpected, but his staff are “digging in” to meet the executive order, and he offered no specific release schedule, urging the public to “stand by” [1]. He also toured two Colorado commercial‑space companies during the Pentagon’s “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, underscoring departmental interest in emerging space technologies [1].

NASA Stresses Open‑Science Policy While UFO Interest Grows NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens posted on X that the agency continues its open‑science commitment, making all NASA data publicly available and noting that recent unexplained findings are tied to costly programs rather than extraterrestrials [2]. The agency welcomed public participation but did not indicate any direct involvement in the Trump‑ordered file search.

Public Polls and Lawmakers Amplify Demand for Transparency 2021 Pew Research Center survey shows 65 % of Americans believe intelligent life likely exists on other planets, fueling political pressure; Rep. Nancy Mace tweeted that Trump’s directive fulfills her October request for full UAP disclosure [2]. Trump’s daughter‑in‑law Lara Trump claimed the president has a prepared alien speech, a statement the White House denied [6]. These elements illustrate the combined public curiosity and legislative push behind the disclosure effort [7].

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Primary Data (2)

Pew: Most Americans believe in intelligent life beyond Earth; few see UFOs as a major national security threat

Published (3 tables/charts)

Pew: Most Americans believe in intelligent life beyond Earth; few see UFOs as a major national security threat

Published (3 tables/charts)

Timeline

2017 – A secret Pentagon program that tracks unidentified aerial phenomena is disclosed, sparking later congressional interest in UFO transparency. [1]

2021 – Former President Barack Obama jokes in a James Corden interview about a “secret lab” holding alien specimens, later saying the footage he saw is unexplained. [2]

2021 – A Pew Research Center survey finds 65 % of Americans believe intelligent extraterrestrial life likely exists, underscoring public fascination with UFOs. [5]

May 2022 – Congress holds its first UFO hearings in 50 years, demanding greater disclosure of military sightings. [1][9]

July 2022 – The Department of Defense establishes the All‑Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to centralize UAP reporting and analysis. [9]

July 2023 – A House hearing labels UAPs a national‑security concern after veterans warn that unexplained sightings pose risks and the government has been overly secretive. [3]

June 2024 – An 18‑page unclassified Pentagon report records 485 military UFO reports (118 identified as balloons, birds, drones) and states AARO finds no verifiable evidence of alien technology. [9]

2024 – President Donald Trump repeatedly says he received briefings on Navy UFOs, meets “serious people” claiming sightings, and declares he is “not a believer” while leaving “anything is possible.” [6]

2024 – AARO’s 2024 report tallies 1,652 UAP cases through the year, attributing many to balloons, drones, birds or debris and noting several incidents remain “interesting” and beyond current physics understanding. [3][4]

Feb 16 2026 – Obama clarifies on Instagram that while the universe is vast “the probability that Earth has been visited by extraterrestrials is low” and he saw no evidence during his presidency, after saying “They’re real but I haven’t seen them” on a podcast. [2]

Feb 16 2026 – Online rumors claim Trump will deliver a historic UFO disclosure speech on July 8 2026 (the Roswell anniversary) and hold a press conference on May 1 2026, citing an unnamed Washington insider. [8]

Feb 19 2026 – In a Fox News interview, Trump calls Obama’s alien comment “a big mistake” and alleges the former president disclosed classified information. [7]

Feb 19 2026 – Trump orders the Pentagon and other agencies to locate and release all UFO, UAP and alien‑related records, citing “tremendous interest” from the public. [9]

Feb 20 2026 – Trump posts on Truth Social that he directs the Secretary of War and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to identify and release government UFO files, while stating on Air Force One, “I don’t know if they’re real or not,” and that he has “no personal opinion on alien existence.” [1][3][6]

Feb 21 2026 – NASA’s press secretary reaffirms the agency’s open‑science policy, noting NASA data remain publicly available and that recent unexplained findings relate to program costs rather than extraterrestrials. [5]

Feb 24 2026 – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirms the Trump‑ordered UFO‑file search is under way, says the task was “unexpected” but staff are “digging in,” and offers no public timeline for release. [4]

May 1 2026 (rumored) – A source allegedly tells ufologist Mark Christopher Lee that Trump will hold a press conference on UFO disclosure, though the White House provides no confirmation. [8]

July 8 2026 (rumored) – The same source suggests Trump will give a historic speech on the 79th anniversary of the Roswell incident, promising a major declassification announcement. [8]

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