It’s been over a year since Congressional leaders last convened to hear from experts about unidentified objects that are outpacing our military, alongside claims of covert government programs examining these alien crafts.

The notable congressional hearing was packed with eye-opening claims pertaining to UFOs. Although the government has shifted its terminology from UFOs to the less stigmatized term – unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP – the public remained fascinated, continuing to indulge in the longstanding allure of flying saucers and extraterrestrial beings.

During the hearing, military personnel contributed extensive and compelling accounts about not just peculiar vehicles navigating U.S. airspace, but also about government efforts to seize and investigate these crafts. This revelation kept the public intrigued.

The hearing rekindled long-standing public suspicions that government officials, particularly within the military, are concealing information related to alien activities, propelling a movement advocating for transparency. Now, with over a year having passed, the government appears to be gradually warming up to the notion of sharing more information with the public.

However, some lawmakers and UFO advocates argue that developments have been insufficient. As a result, they are following up on the subject of UAP at another hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

In anticipation of the upcoming congressional session, here’s a recap of what has transpired since Congress’s last examination of UFOs.

Tune in to Wednesday’s hearing

YSL News will livestream Wednesday’s hearing in the embed below:

July 2023: Military Officials Provide Testimony on UFOs During Last Congressional Hearing

In July 2023, members of the House were informed by two ex-Navy pilots who shared insights about incidents involving objects that frequently breached U.S. airspace.

Lt. Ryan Graves and Cmdr. David Fravor recounted their own observations, and credible accounts from fellow pilots, detailing encounters with aircraft that demonstrated abilities beyond any known human technology.

Fravor was among the Navy pilots who encountered the well-known Tic Tac-shaped object in 2004, filmed off California’s coast. Describing the event, Fravor depicted the oval object as “perfectly white, smooth, no windows,” exhibiting unprecedented flight capabilities.

The most startling moments of the session came when ex-Pentagon intelligence officer David Grusch testified regarding an alleged obscure “multi-decade” Pentagon initiative intended to recover and analyze downed crafts and their extraterrestrial pilots. Without solid evidence, Grusch claimed under oath that the Pentagon has known about extraterrestrial activities since the 1930s, concealing this from Congress and misusing funds for its operations.

The Pentagon has consistently rejected the existence of such a program.

August 2023: Pentagon Launches UFO Website Featuring Declassified Information

About two months post-hearing, the Pentagon’s office dedicated to investigating UFOs launched a new website for the public to access declassified reports associated with sighting incidents.

This site, managed by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) – a recently established Pentagon initiative designed to evaluate UAP reports – allows military pilots to report their sightings as well.

Over a year after its launch, the site hosts several videos, some of which have been identified as commercial aircraft, while others remain “unresolved.” Each video comes with a brief explanation from AARO detailing its context and the object’s characteristics.

However, if you seek evidence of extraterrestrial life on the site, you may be disappointed. In January, former AARO director Sean Kirkpatrick – who has since been replaced by Jon T. Kosloski – was clear on a podcast:

“There is no evidence of aliens, nor is there any indication of a government conspiracy,” he stated.

September 2023: NASA Releases UAP Report and Appoints Research Director

Shortly after, NASA published a long-awaited report on UFOs, clarifying that there is no evidence supporting the idea of alien spacecraft visiting Earth.

In an effort to showcase its transparency, Administrator Bill Nelson announced the appointment of a new director focused on UAP research.

Due to concerns over national security and aviation safety, NASA initiated its first-ever UFO study in 2022. The report created by external experts suggested ways for NASA to collaborate with the U.S. government and private companies to enhance the research and understanding of unidentified aerial phenomena.

New Legislation Seeks to Reveal Records and Simplify Reporting

In response to recent hearings, Congress is taking steps with bipartisan legislation aimed at shedding light on UFOs for the public.

Last December, President Joe Biden enacted a modified version of a bill that intended to mandate the release of UFO data from the executive branch, which was attached to a broader defense policy bill.

Nevertheless, lawmakers such as Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and various advocates for UFO transparency criticized the legislation as subpar. The revised bill requires some information on UAPs to be made public, but it gives considerable discretion to agencies regarding what can be withheld.

Additionally, a House bill proposed in January would allow commercial airline pilots who observe unusual aerial activity to report these UFO sightings to the federal authorities. Sponsored by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-California) and Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wisconsin), the bill aims to create a process for airline personnel to inform the Federal Aviation Administration about their sightings.

However, since its introduction, the bill has seemingly stalled.

Alien Themes Resurface in Pop Culture

The intense Congressional hearing has reignited the public’s fascination with UFOs, a phenomenon that gained notable attention following the 1947 Roswell incident.

Over the past year, Netflix has released a docuseries, brands like MoonPie have jumped into the conversation, and various conspiracy theories have emerged. Even the tourism board in Lexington, Kentucky, has humorously encouraged extraterrestrials to visit their city through an amusing marketing campaign.

The belief that unidentified flying objects, when there are no immediate explanations, must be visitors from outer space continues to grow, even as astrophysicists warn that the lack of clear natural causes does not mean that alien explanations are probable.

Some specialists consider the ongoing UFO fascination a significant societal concern.