UAP Disclosure
UAP Disclosure: What Has Been Released
The modern official term for UFO transparency. What the U.S. government has actually published, what legislation governs it, and what remains unresolved.
Why “UAP” Instead of “UFO”?
The U.S. government formally adopted the term UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) to move beyond the cultural stigma attached to “UFO.” The shift also reflects a broader definition: UAP now includes submerged, transmedium, and space-domain observations, not only aerial sightings.
The AARO, ODNI, NASA, and Congress all use UAP as the official designation. Publicly, the older term UFO remains widely recognized and is used interchangeably in common usage.
Key UAP Disclosure Milestones
- 2017 — New York Times reporting reveals AATIP and leaks Navy UAP videos, triggering congressional and public interest
- 2020 — DoD officially releases three Navy UAP videos (Gimbal, GoFast, FLIR1)
- 2021 — ODNI publishes preliminary assessment of 144 UAP reports
- 2022 — AARO established; FY2023 NDAA expands UAP reporting requirements
- 2023 — NASA publishes independent UAP study; high-profile congressional hearing held
- 2024 — AARO publishes Historical Record Program Volume 1; UAP Disclosure Act provisions enacted in NDAA
Recent Timeline
FY2023 NDAA — UAP Disclosure Provisions
The FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act included provisions requiring AARO to establish a historical records program and expanding requirements for UAP reporting.
Congressional UAP Hearing — Grusch, Fravor, Graves Testify
A high-profile House Oversight Subcommittee hearing featured testimony from former intelligence official David Grusch, pilot David Fravor, and pilot Ryan Graves. Grusch alleged secret recovery programs; the DoD denied them.
Official source ↗NASA UAP Independent Study Report Released
NASA released its independent study team report on UAP, concluding current data is insufficient for definitive conclusions and recommending improved data collection and civilian reporting mechanisms.
Official source ↗UAP Disclosure Act Provisions in FY2024 NDAA
Amended UAP Disclosure Act provisions were enacted in the FY2024 NDAA, requiring agencies to review and transmit UAP-related records. A proposed independent review board was not included.
Official source ↗AARO Historical Record Program Volume 1
AARO released Volume 1 of its historical records review, finding no verifiable evidence of secret government programs involving recovered non-human craft.
Official source ↗