The US Department of Defense released 161 declassified files related to Unidentified Flying Objects(UFOs) and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena(UAP) on Friday.
The release followed an order from US President Donald Trump, who earlier this year promised to make more government records public.
Pentagon UFO Files Revive Interest in Unexplained Sightings
The files are now available through a new Pentagon website created to improve public access to historical records. Officials said additional batches of documents, images, and videos will continue to be released in the coming weeks.
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The disclosure includes military memos, astronaut transcripts, civilian interviews, and video clips recorded by US forces overseas. The Pentagon said the material contains unresolved cases that investigators were unable to fully explain.
The release arrives during renewed public interest in UFO investigations across the US. In recent years, Congress has held hearings on unidentified aerial phenomena for the first time in decades.
Government agencies have also faced growing pressure from lawmakers and researchers demanding greater transparency. Officials now use the term UAP instead of UFO because it covers a wider range of unexplained aerial events.
Many of the released files focus on sightings reported during space missions in the 1960s and 1970s. Several Apollo astronauts described unusual lights and floating particles while traveling near or around the Moon.
Apollo Astronauts Reported Flashing Lights
One newly released transcript includes comments from Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin about a bright object seen during the historic 1969 Moon mission. He described observing what appeared to be a strong light source, which the crew initially believed might be a laser.
Another transcript details observations made by Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean during the 1969 mission. Bean reported seeing flashes of light and particles moving through space while near the Moon.
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According to the files, Bean described the particles as appearing to escape from the lunar surface. However, the astronauts did not claim the objects were extraterrestrial in origin.
Apollo 17 astronauts also described unusual visual effects during their 1972 mission. Astronaut Harrison Schmitt reportedly compared the flashing lights outside the spacecraft to fireworks.
The crew later suggested the lights may have been caused by reflections from floating ice crystals or other debris. Scientists have previously noted that sunlight reflecting off particles in space can create unusual visual patterns for astronauts.
The files also include audio from the Gemini 7 mission conducted in 1965. During communication with mission control, astronaut Frank Borman reported seeing an unidentified object alongside trillions of little particles near the spacecraft.
NASA and military experts have often explained similar sightings as natural effects caused by light, debris, or spacecraft materials. Still, the recordings remain part of the government archive because investigators never reached final conclusions in every case.
Military UAP Footage, Civilian Reports
The Pentagon files also contain reports from civilians who claimed to have witnessed unexplained flying objects over several decades. One FBI interview from 1957 described a man who reported a large, circular object rising from the ground before disappearing.
More recent interviews from 2023 describe hovering metallic objects appearing near bright flashes of light. The individuals involved believed the objects behaved in ways they could not easily explain.
Several newly released military videos were recorded in Iraq, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates during 2022 operations. The footage shows fast-moving aerial objects captured by surveillance systems used by US forces in the region.
One video recorded in an undisclosed Middle Eastern location shows an oval-shaped object moving rapidly across the screen. Pentagon analysts reportedly labeled it as a possible missile, though the case remained unresolved.
The Department of Defense stressed that unresolved cases do not automatically indicate alien technology or extraterrestrial life. Officials said many sightings are eventually linked to drones, balloons, atmospheric effects, or military systems.
Experts who reviewed the files noted that the release contains few major surprises for longtime UFO researchers. However, they said the documents are important because they confirm the government has actively collected and examined reports for decades.
Former President Barack Obama also contributed to public discussion on the issue earlier this year. During a February interview, Obama said aliens were real, though he later clarified that he had seen no evidence of extraterrestrial life while serving in office.
The Pentagon’s website states that the files are being released to support public transparency. Officials also encouraged private researchers and outside experts to study the material and offer additional analysis.
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Lawmakers from both political parties reacted positively to the release. Congressman Tim Burchett described the disclosure as a strong first step toward greater government openness.
Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna also welcomed the move and said Americans deserve access to information collected using public funding. Some critics, however, argued that the release distracted attention from more urgent political and economic issues.
Members of the UFO research community said they were encouraged even though the files did not contain definitive proof of alien life. Researchers noted that many enthusiasts did not expect dramatic revelations in the first release.
Groups such as the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) said the archive still offers valuable historical insight. Analysts believe future releases may help researchers compare patterns across decades of reported sightings.
The Pentagon emphasized that new materials will continue to appear online as more documents are reviewed and cleared for public release. The ongoing disclosures are expected to keep public attention focused on one of the world’s most debated mysteries for months ahead.
