Overview
Republican Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee, co‑chair of the Congressional Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Caucus, confirmed to the Ask a Pol platform that he will meet with Senator Marco Rubio (R‑FL) next week to discuss “UAP topics.” The brief, off‑the‑record exchange also revealed Burchett’s ongoing effort to secure a 15‑minute audience with former President Donald Trump to brief the former commander‑in‑chief on the same issue. While the meeting with Rubio marks a step up the chain of command, Burchett emphasized that the caucus is also pushing for greater focus on underwater UAP phenomena, an area he says has received limited congressional attention.
Meeting with Senator Rubio
During a live Q&A session on the Capitol steps, Burchett answered a subscriber’s question: “I’m meeting with Marco Rubio next week.” When pressed on the agenda, he replied, “A little bit, yeah,” indicating that the discussion will likely cover the caucus’s current legislative priorities, including the push for additional data collection and transparency. Rubio, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee’s subcommittee on emerging threats, has previously expressed interest in “unusual aerial observations,” making the upcoming dialogue a logical extension of bipartisan curiosity about unexplained aerial and maritime objects.
Request for Presidential Access
Burchett also addressed a lingering request for a brief meeting with Donald Trump, noting, “Not yet. I’ve asked for it.” The former president, who has occasionally referenced UAP sightings in public statements, remains a potential ally for legislators seeking executive support. By “moving up the chain,” Burchett hopes that a direct conversation with Trump could generate political momentum for further hearings and possibly unlock classified information that has not been shared with Congress.
Legislative Context and Upcoming Hearings
The UAP Caucus, formed in 2023, has already held two public hearings during the 118th Congress, drawing testimony from military pilots, intelligence officials, and scientists. Burchett hinted at a third hearing in the current 119th Congress, saying, “My suggestion would be, let’s get some new information if we’re really going to do that.” He confirmed ongoing coordination with fellow caucus members Rep. Eric Burlison and Secrets Task Force Chair Anna Paulina Luna, underscoring a collaborative approach across both chambers. The focus of the anticipated hearing, according to Burchett, will expand beyond traditional aerial sightings to include underwater UAP activity, a domain that has emerged from recent Navy reports of anomalous objects detected by sonar and submersible platforms.
Implications for Policy and Oversight
If the meeting with Rubio yields a joint legislative‑executive strategy, it could accelerate the introduction of a UAP reporting and research bill that would mandate systematic data sharing between the Department of Defense, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and congressional oversight committees. Such legislation would build on the 2023 Intelligence Authorization Act, which required the Pentagon to produce an annual unclassified report on UAPs. Burchett’s outreach to Trump adds another layer, suggesting that the administration’s stance could influence the speed and scope of any forthcoming policy measures.
Next Steps
Burchett’s schedule indicates that the Rubio meeting will take place early next week, followed by continued outreach to the White House for a presidential briefing. The caucus plans to release a formal agenda for the upcoming hearing by the end of the month, inviting experts on hydro‑acoustic detection and marine domain awareness to address the “underwater UAP” angle. As bipartisan interest grows, observers note that the combination of legislative hearings, executive engagement, and inter‑agency data sharing could finally move the UAP discussion from the fringe to a mainstream national‑security priority.
The information in this article is drawn from a recorded interview with Rep. Tim Burchett conducted by Ask a Pol on December 12, 2025.
