The Pentagon released 72 newly declassified files related to UFOs and unidentified anomalous phenomena on Friday, June 12, 2026. The documents, which span from the 1940s to 2026, detail government investigations into UFO sightings in the United States and around the world. This marks the third batch of such files released at the urging of President Donald Trump.
The files come from multiple government agencies and are now housed on a dedicated government site. According to official statements, the materials archived represent unresolved cases, meaning the government is unable to make a definitive determination on the nature of the observed phenomena. The documents do not contain definitive proof of extraterrestrial life.
Main Developments
The 72 newly released files originate from six different sources within the U.S. government. The FBI contributed the largest portion with 29 files, followed by the CIA with 18 files. The Department of Defense provided 12 files, while NASA contributed 11 files. One file came from the intelligence community, and another came from an unspecified agency.
The documents reveal that government agencies have been investigating UFO sightings for decades, both domestically and internationally. One file documents a sighting that occurred in July 2008 at Harare International Airport in Zimbabwe, demonstrating the global scope of these investigations.
More recent sightings are also included in the release. Documents reference an October 2024 sighting in the northeastern United States, where an object was spotted at an estimated distance of 2,700 feet. Another file describes an October 2023 incident in the western United States reported by a federal law enforcement agent.
What We Know So Far
The declassified files reveal a long history of government engagement with UFO phenomena. A June 1946 Defense Department evaluation study examined 210 incidents and found that only 20 percent had been explained. The study concluded there was no tangible evidence that would support a theory that any incidents were attributable to activity of a foreign nation.
The files also show that the CIA convened a Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects, with documents from this panel dating to 1952-1953. According to the released materials, the panel’s primary conclusion was that flying saucers did not pose a direct physical threat to the national security of the United States.
A 1958 CIA memo written by R.P.B. Lohman provides insight into the challenges of investigating UFO reports. The memo states that records on certain matters have been destroyed by the evaluating agency. The specific agency that destroyed these records was not identified in the released documents.
The memo also reveals internal government frustration with handling UFO inquiries. According to the document, officials acknowledged that there have been many cooks in the kitchen on this dish and that the extraordinarily noncommittal and evasive answer they were instructed to give was perhaps the only one possible to avoid crossing up previous statements of their own and other involved agencies.
Historical Context From the Files
The documents include correspondence dating back to 1949 involving then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. Rev. Charles Barnes reported a sighting to Hoover that year. That particular incident involved a sighting in the Cascade Mountains at an altitude of 10,000 feet.
The files reference Dr. Leon Davidson, a scientist who worked on the atomic bomb and investigated UFO sightings. His inquiries appear to have prompted the 1958 memo about destroyed records.
NASA materials include references to a November 1962 interview conducted by CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite with astronaut Gordon Cooper, who piloted the last Mercury spaceflight. Cronkite died in 2009.
According to the documents, the official responses consistently state that, circa 1998, the U.S. Government is not aware of evidence supporting the existence of extraterrestrial technology.
One document notes that a large number of exceptionally well-qualified people have seen objects, though this observation did not lead to conclusions about the nature of those objects.
What Happens Next
The files are now publicly available on a dedicated government website. This release follows two previous batches of declassified UFO files that were also released at President Trump’s urging. The documents will likely be subject to extensive review by researchers, journalists and members of the public interested in the government’s historical approach to UFO investigations.
The Pentagon has classified these materials as unresolved cases, indicating that further investigation or review may not be forthcoming. The release provides transparency into historical government activities but does not offer definitive answers about the nature of the phenomena documented in the files.
Important Details
A Defense Department memo dated June 2, 2026, is among the most recent documents in the collection. This memo preceded the Friday release by just over a week, indicating that the government continues to generate documentation related to unidentified anomalous phenomena.
The breakdown of files by agency shows varying levels of historical involvement in UFO investigations across the government. The FBI’s 29 files represent the largest single agency contribution, suggesting significant historical engagement with the topic by law enforcement. The CIA’s 18 files and the Department of Defense’s 12 files reflect the national security dimensions of UFO investigations over the decades.
NASA’s 11 files indicate that the space agency has also been involved in documenting and potentially investigating such phenomena. The single file from the intelligence community and the file from an unspecified agency suggest that other government entities have also engaged with UFO-related matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many declassified UFO files did the Pentagon release?
The Pentagon released 72 newly declassified files on Friday, June 12, 2026. These files come from the FBI, CIA, Department of Defense, NASA, the intelligence community and one unspecified agency.
Do the declassified UFO files prove aliens exist?
No. According to official statements, the documents do not contain definitive proof of extraterrestrial life. The files represent unresolved cases where the government was unable to make a definitive determination on the nature of the observed phenomena.
Where can I access the declassified UFO files?
The files are housed on a dedicated government site. This is the third batch of such files released at President Donald Trump’s urging.
What is the oldest document in the declassified UFO files?
The files span from the 1940s to 2026. The oldest referenced study is a June 1946 Defense Department evaluation that examined 210 incidents and found that 20 percent had been explained.
Were any UFO investigation records destroyed?
According to a January 9, 1958, CIA memo written by R.P.B. Lohman, records on certain matters were destroyed by an evaluating agency. The specific agency that destroyed the records was not identified in the released documents.
The release of these 72 files adds to the growing public record of government engagement with unidentified anomalous phenomena over eight decades. The documents provide historical insight into how various agencies approached UFO reports while leaving many questions unanswered, as the government itself has classified these as unresolved cases.
