Lawmakers exiting a classified briefing on UFOs, officially termed unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), expressed a mix of feelings, with some frustrated by limited information and others asserting they gained more clarity on last summer’s explosive testimony regarding unexplained sightings.
The closed-door session at the Capitol Building involved Thomas Monheim, inspector general of the intelligence community, addressing members of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee for about 90 minutes. The aim was to enhance transparency regarding the government’s understanding of UAP.
This secretive meeting followed a July hearing where three former Defense Department officials warned that UAP sightings could pose national security risks. The public hearing included astonishing testimony from former military intelligence officer David Grusch, who claimed that the Pentagon and other agencies were withholding information about UAP, alleging a “multi-decade” program to reverse engineer nonhuman technology. The Pentagon denied these claims.
Despite expectations, several lawmakers revealed they learned little new information about Grusch’s accusations. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi expressed disappointment, stating, “Let’s just say that all of us were very interested in the substance of his claims, and unfortunately, I didn’t get the answers that I was hoping for.”
Rep. Tim Burchett characterized the briefing as “more of the same” and highlighted the compartmentalized nature of the information. He likened it to “looking down the barrel of a .22 rifle,” suggesting that details were limited. Burchett, a believer in extraterrestrial life, accused the U.S. government of covering up evidence and claimed the discussion verified his suspicions.
Similarly, Rep. Andy Ogles, not part of the Oversight Committee but associated with the UAP Caucus, asserted that there is a concerted effort to conceal information from both Congress and the public. He voiced frustration at the lack of specific answers, stating, “I asked very specific questions and was unable to get specific answers. And so that’s a problem, and we’re not going to stop until we get the truth.”
