Overview
In a recent interview on the “Aliens Last Night” program, Rep. Eric Burlison (R‑MO) discussed newly released footage from a congressional briefing that, he said, shows objects moving at speeds that “defy physics.” The briefing, attended by Reps. Burchett, Luna, Mace and Ogles, featured a handful of unclassified videos that the House Oversight Committee is reviewing. According to Burlison, analyst Matthew Brown is helping to catalog roughly two dozen such recordings, a step that could provide the “receipts” lawmakers need to assess whether current UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) investigations are comprehensive and transparent.
Congressional Briefing and Video Evidence
During the briefing, members examined short clips captured by military pilots and sensors that appear to depict aerial objects accelerating, decelerating, and maneuvering in ways that challenge conventional aeronautical physics. While the videos have not been publicly released, Burlison emphasized that the committee’s staff is working to verify their authenticity and to determine the provenance of the data. “If these objects are truly moving faster than anything we can currently build, that is a matter of national security,” he told the host, and the committee intends to request a formal, unclassified report from the Department of Defense’s All‑Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO).
Whistleblower Testimony and Legislative Action
The interview also highlighted the role of former intelligence officer David Grusch, whose 2023 congressional testimony described alleged secret programs to retrieve and reverse‑engineer non‑human craft. Burlison described Grusch’s testimony as a “call for help,” noting that he facilitated the whistleblower’s appearance before the Oversight Committee. Although the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has not confirmed the more sensational claims—such as alien bodies or reverse‑engineered technology—it did verify that several agencies are “over‑compartmentalizing” information and not fully complying with reporting statutes. “We have a duty to our constituents to know whether taxpayer dollars are funding programs that remain hidden from elected officials,” Burlison said.
Systemic Barriers and Agency Accountability
Burlison pointed to structural obstacles within the intelligence community that impede timely disclosure. He described the reporting chain as “convoluted by design,” with multiple agencies required to obtain “four‑corners” approval—sign‑off from both the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees—before sharing data with Congress. This layered process, he argued, hampers the ability of even cleared members of Congress to access critical information. The lack of a standardized, unclassified reporting mechanism for both military personnel and the public further complicates oversight, leaving pilots’ reports of near‑misses, radiation exposure, and other health concerns largely untracked in the public record.
Outlook and Next Steps
Looking ahead, Burlison said the committee will press the Department of Defense for a comprehensive inventory of all UAP‑related footage, including the two‑dozen videos currently under review. He also indicated that the committee plans to coordinate with Senate counterparts, such as Sen. Chuck Grassley, who has been pursuing FBI documents on the subject. While Burlison remains skeptical of extraordinary claims, he stressed that “the evidence of advanced technology that appears to defy the laws of physics is too compelling to ignore.” The push for disclosure, he concluded, is fundamentally about transparency and the public’s right to know what may lie beyond the current scientific horizon.
