Joe Biscotto- The Contact Report
The U.S. Department of Defense has failed to meet a congressional deadline requiring the release of a comprehensive list of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) videos in its possession, fueling renewed frustration among lawmakers and intensifying public scrutiny over government transparency on the issue.
The missed deadline comes amid growing indications that a wider, coordinated declassification effort may already be underway behind the scenes.
According to sources within the intelligence community who spoke to The Contact Report, elements of the Trump administration are actively working with the Pentagon on a significant release of UAP-related materials. These sources describe an effort that extends beyond the videos requested by Congress, potentially including additional footage and classified documents that could be declassified in the near future.
Notably, Vice President JD Vance is said to be heavily involved in the process, suggesting the initiative may have high-level backing within the administration.
A Missed Deadline—and Mounting Questions
Congress had formally requested that the Pentagon provide a detailed accounting of all UAP-related videos in its possession. That deadline has now come and gone without compliance or clear explanation.
The lack of response has raised questions about internal coordination within the Department of Defense and whether bureaucratic resistance, or deliberate delay, continues to hinder disclosure efforts.
Trump’s Directive and Limited Public Movement
In February 2026, President Donald Trump publicly stated that he would direct U.S. agencies, including the Department of War (DoW), to begin identifying and releasing government files related to UAP.
Yet nearly two months later, there has been little visible follow-through in the public domain.
This apparent gap between directive and action has become a focal point in recent discussions between Trump and members of Congress, including Tim Burchett, one of Capitol Hill’s most outspoken advocates for UAP transparency.
In a recent interview, Burchett said he urged the president to “peel back the layers of that onion” and allow the American public to evaluate the information for themselves.
“We can handle it,” Burchett stated, adding that he has been briefed on what he described as “wild things” that Americans deserve to know.
Congressional Pressure Intensifies
Efforts to force disclosure are not limited to Burchett. Representative Anna Paulina Luna has also taken direct action, sending a formal request to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth seeking access to at least 46 unreleased UAP videos.
According to Luna, the Pentagon initially failed to respond.
“No one from the Pentagon had responded until we reached out, and it appears that someone did not pass the letter to the appropriate authorities. How convenient,” she said in a statement. “Nonetheless, we will be getting the requested list. We are not waiting for a briefing at some unspecified future date.”
Department of Defense spokesperson Susan Gough has reportedly hinted at the possibility of a future press conference addressing the issue, though no timeline has been confirmed.
AARO’s Role Raises Concerns
The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the Pentagon’s official body tasked with investigating UAP, is also reportedly involved in the current process.
However, its inclusion has sparked skepticism among transparency advocates. Critics point to AARO’s past handling of UAP cases; often characterized by limited disclosure and cautious conclusions, as a reason to question how expansive any forthcoming release may ultimately be.
What Comes Next
With the Pentagon now in violation of a congressional deadline and multiple lawmakers applying pressure, the coming weeks may prove pivotal.
If intelligence community sources are correct, the public could soon see not only the release of the long-demanded UAP video list but also a broader wave of declassified material that has remained hidden for decades.
For now, however, the lack of official action continues to underscore a familiar tension in the UAP debate: the push for transparency versus the inertia of entrenched secrecy.
And as lawmakers like Burchett and Luna continue to press forward, the question remains, how much is the government willing to reveal, and how soon?
Joe Biscotto
UAP Reporting Center
The Contact Report