Overview
On December 13, 2025, Representatives Anna Paulina Luna (R‑FL), Tim Burchett (R‑TN), and Eric Burlison (R‑OK) convened a closed‑door briefing to discuss what they described as a systematic effort by federal agencies to impede congressional oversight of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), commonly known as UFOs. The three lawmakers, who have each sponsored or co‑sponsored legislation aimed at increasing transparency, said they continue to encounter “roadblocks” when trying to secure testimony from military pilots, intelligence analysts, and other witnesses who have reported anomalous sightings.
Congressional Push for Transparency
Since the 2022 release of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s UAP report, the House Intelligence Committee has pressed the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) for full access to raw data, sensor logs, and de‑classified briefings. Rep. Luna highlighted the “unprecedented public interest” that followed the report, noting that “the American people deserve to know whether these phenomena represent a national‑security threat, advanced technology from a foreign adversary, or something else entirely.” Rep. Burchett, a former Air Force reservist, added that “our service members on the front lines are being asked to keep silent about what they see, and that is unacceptable.”
Agency Resistance and Access Obstacles
According to the briefing, the lawmakers have repeatedly been denied timely access to key witnesses. The DoD’s UAP Task Force, restructured as the All‑Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), has cited “classification constraints” and “ongoing investigations” as reasons for postponing hearings. Rep. Burlison recounted a recent request for a panel of pilots who observed a “high‑velocity, low‑observable object” over the Gulf of Mexico, which was met with a “standard refusal” and a promise to provide a “redacted summary” months later. “When the agencies claim national‑security concerns, they must at least provide a clear justification,” Luna asked, “otherwise the presumption is that they are protecting something beyond the public’s right to know.”
Proposed Plan and Potential Presidential Disclosure
The three representatives outlined a multi‑step strategy to break the impasse. First, they intend to file a Congressional subpoena targeting AARO’s senior officials, a move they say is supported by precedent set during the 2021 investigation into the “Tic Tac” incident. Second, they are coordinating with the Senate Armed Services Committee to draft a joint resolution that would require the executive branch to submit a comprehensive inventory of all UAP encounters since 2004. Finally, the lawmakers are preparing a briefing for the White House that could culminate in a presidential public disclosure, should the evidence warrant it. “If the data show that these objects are real and potentially hostile, the President has a duty to inform the nation,” Burchett emphasized.
Outlook and Next Steps
While the plan signals a more aggressive congressional stance, analysts caution that the success of the initiative depends on the administration’s willingness to cooperate. Former Pentagon officials note that past attempts to compel testimony have often resulted in negotiated settlements rather than full compliance. Nonetheless, the representatives remain confident that sustained pressure will “force the agencies to either open the books or demonstrate a legitimate, documented reason for secrecy.” As the next round of hearings approaches, the eyes of both the intelligence community and the public will be on Capitol Hill, awaiting whether the “gatekeepers” of UAP information will finally unlock the files.
