U.S. Congress will convene a hearing on September 9, 2025, aimed at enhancing transparency regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). Titled “Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection,” the session will be conducted by the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, which was established in January 2025 by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The hearing is set to commence at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT) and will be available for live viewing through the House Committee on Oversight and Reform’s channels.
Chaired by Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), the task force seeks to address claims that the U.S. government has withheld critical information regarding UAPs and other significant matters, including the origins of COVID-19 and the 9/11 files. In a recent House statement, Luna emphasized the need for transparency, stating, “The American people deserve maximum transparency from the federal government on sightings, acquisitions, and examinations of UAPs and whether they pose a potential threat to Americans’ safety.”
The hearing will feature testimonies from three military veterans who assert they have witnessed UAP. Their experiences will contribute to a broader investigation into what information about these phenomena should remain classified. Luna’s statements indicate that the aim is to compel Congress to reevaluate the classification of information related to UAPs.
Significantly, the session will also welcome George Knapp, a seasoned investigative journalist known for his long-standing claims regarding government concealment of evidence related to UFOs. Knapp gained prominence in the late 1980s while working as an anchor for KLAS-TV in Las Vegas, where he helped popularize the narratives of UFO advocates such as Bob Lazar and John Lear. Lazar has alleged that he worked at the U.S. Air Force’s infamous Area 51, where he purportedly assisted in reverse-engineering downed spacecraft, claims that remain unverified. Lear, a former CIA pilot, has put forth theories suggesting government collusion with extraterrestrial beings.
The hearing aims to convey that “whistleblowers who provide details on spending information and policies and procedures regarding the classification and declassification of UAPs should be able to do so without retribution,” according to Luna. This aligns with previous congressional sentiments expressed in November 2024 by former U.S. counterintelligence officer Luis Elizondo. Elizondo has spoken about the existence of a clandestine arms race fueled by taxpayer funds, stating that the American public is largely unaware of its extent due to the government’s classification practices.
For years, individuals claiming to be whistleblowers have contended that military and intelligence surveillance systems frequently capture evidence of unexplained phenomena. They argue that the government’s decision to classify this data prevents full disclosure to the public, effectively obscuring the truth about potential extraterrestrial encounters.
As the hearing approaches, anticipation grows over the potential implications for U.S. policy on UAP transparency and the future of whistleblower protections. The outcome may influence how the government approaches the classification of sensitive information and the extent to which it engages with the public on these mysterious phenomena.
