Government Begins Releasing Files on Unresolved UFO Cases

Donald Trump ordered the U.S. government to search for documents about UFOs. He asked officials to find material about unidentified things seen in the sky, as well as about extraterrestrial life.

Now the government is beginning to open a vast archive to the public. But there’s a twist: the materials slated for release concern cases the government has been unable to explain with certainty. Alongside the documents themselves, the public will get mysteries that remain unsolved.

The Search Starts at the Top

Trump gave the order to the secretary of war and other government offices. The U.S. Department of War is leading the search, with help from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The name PURSUE appears as part of the effort, but the source does not explain what it means.

Dozens of government agencies must now locate and review tens of millions of documents. They were created over many decades, and some exist only on paper. Before releasing them, the government must review the material and authorize the release of documents that are not already public.

Not Every File Will Reveal What Happened

The documents being added to the archive concern unresolved cases. That means the government has been unable to determine with certainty what caused the things seen in the sky. Sometimes, according to the official announcement, the reason is simply that there isn’t enough information.

The materials may include details that can be reassessed. The government is also inviting outside experts to examine them and contribute their own information and analysis. That means the documents won’t remain solely in the hands of the agencies that first investigated the cases.

When and Where Will the Documents Appear?

The material won’t all be posted at once. The Department of War plans to add newly found materials to the archive in batches every few weeks, once they have been approved for release. In other words, the public will be able to return and see what has been added.

The release is intended to make government documents that were restricted from public access available, not to offer a ready-made solution to every case. Experts outside the government will also be able to review the material and try to make sense of it.