Historic First Release of Declassified UAP Files Now Available on WAR.GOV/UFO Portal

In one of the most significant transparency efforts in recent U.S. government history, the Department of War (DOW), in coordination with multiple federal agencies, launched the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE) and released its first batch of declassified files on May 8, 2026.

This follows President Donald J. Trump’s February 19, 2026, directive on Truth Social ordering agencies to declassify records on “alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).”

Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) refers to airborne, transmedium, seaborne, spaceborne, or submerged objects, devices, or detections that are not immediately identifiable and cannot be attributed to known actors or technologies. These phenomena exhibit behaviors, performance characteristics, or material properties that are not readily understood by sensors or observers and may exceed known performance envelopes. A UAP may involve one or more objects and can persist over an extended period of time. (Per NDAA FY23 Section 1673(d)(8) and Department of War definition.)

The files — approximately 160 documents, images, and videos — are now publicly accessible at https://www.war.gov/UFO/ with no security clearance required. Additional tranches will be released on a rolling basis every few weeks.

Types of Files Included in the Initial Release (May 8, 2026)

The first tranche consists primarily of unresolved cases (those that the government has not been able to definitively explain due to insufficient data). Key categories include:

• Historical Military and Intelligence Documents (1940s–1950s)

  • Department of War records from 1946–1948, including “Flying Discs” files from 1949–1950.

  • Numeric files and intelligence summaries from World War II and early Cold War eras (e.g., German armament documents, reports from the Netherlands and Azerbaijan).

  • Incident summary boxes detailing early sightings.

• NASA and Apollo Mission Materials

  • Technical crew debriefings from Apollo 11 (Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins) and other missions.

  • Photos and reports of “unidentified phenomena” observed during lunar missions, including shadows and objects above the lunar horizon.

• Modern Military UAP Encounter Reports

  • Infrared videos and pilot accounts, including a 2013 Middle East sighting of an eight-pointed star-like object maneuvering in front of a Naval jet.

  • 2020 and 2024 unresolved reports featuring football-shaped objects with fin-like projections and dancing bright points captured on infrared sensors.

• FBI, ODNI, and Interagency Records

  • Eyewitness testimonies, radar incidents, and investigative memos.

  • Photographs, videos, and original source documents spanning decades.

• Other Analytical and Preparatory Documents

  • NASA reports such as “UFOs and Defense: What Should We Prepare For?”

  • Broader intelligence collection and dissemination records.

    
    

Visual Highlights from the Release

Apollo 12 lunar horizon anomaly (highlighted “unidentified phenomena” above the Moon's surface during the 1969 mission). One of the standout NASA images is now fully public. Credit: cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net

2013 Middle East eight-pointed star-like UAP (infrared frame from DOW-UAP-PR38). The object shows unusual contrast and motion. Credit: img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net

Apollo 17 lunar anomaly (highlighted triangular formation of dots in the lunar sky). Another high-credibility space-based sighting now declassified. Credit: floridatoday.com

Direct Video Links (watch the raw releases):

2013 Star-Shaped UAP (DOW-UAP-PR38) – Full infrared footage: Watch here or via the portal at war.gov/UFO.

Compilation of released UAP videos from the May 8 tranche: View compilation.

Official Statements

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated: “The Department of War is in lockstep with President Trump to bring unprecedented transparency regarding our government’s understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it’s time the American people see it for themselves.”

The portal emphasizes that these are unresolved cases, and the government welcomes private-sector analysis.

Conclusion

Despite the volume and intriguing nature of the released materials — particularly the high-credibility Apollo astronaut observations and modern multi-sensor military encounters — there is no smoking gun. The files contain no evidence of extraterrestrial technology being reverse-engineered, and no alien bodies that have been recovered. So for those of you who are convinced that such data exists, you're going to have to keep waiting. The Government is promising more data to come.

This initial release marks the beginning of what officials describe as an ongoing, historic transparency effort.

Access the files yourself at: https://www.war.gov/UFO/. Share your thoughts with us by dropping a message to us at contact@shastaunfiltered.com