Pentagon begins release of UFO files

Politics Pentagon begins release of UFO files: "It's time the American people see it for themselves" By Stefan Becket, Stefan Becket Managing Editor, Digital Politics Stefan Becket is a managing editor of politics for CBSNews.com. Stefan has covered national politics for more than a decade and helps oversee a team covering the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court, immigration and federal law enforcement. Read Full Bio Stefan Becket, Joe Walsh Joe Walsh Senior Editor, Politics Joe Walsh is a senior editor for digital politics at CBS News. Joe previously covered breaking news for Forbes and local news in Boston. Read Full Bio Joe Walsh Updated on: May 8, 2026 / 9:28 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The Pentagon began releasing declassified UFO files on Friday, posting approximately 162 documents and photos in the first batch from the files of the FBI, Defense Department, State Department and NASA. More are expected to be made public as the process continues. "These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it's time the American people see it for themselves," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement upon the release of the first files.  The Pentagon released this photo of what it called an "Unresolved UAP Report" from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in 2024 showing a "UAP that resembles a football-shaped body near Japan." Image released by Pentagon In February, President Trump, in a post on Truth Social, directed the Pentagon and other agency heads to release files on UFOs and any "alien and extraterrestrial life."  He asked them "to begin the process of identifying and releasing" any relevant files and called for the release of "any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters."  The Pentagon has tracked reports of what it calls unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAPs, for decades. But the military said in a 2024 report there's no evidence that any government investigation into UAPs has confirmed the existence of extraterrestrial life. Mr. Trump has said he's not sure whether or not aliens exist. This is a developing story and will be updated with more information on what's in the files. More from CBS News Marjorie Taylor Greene claims Trump said her family deserved death threats