Pete Hegseth Gives Update On UFO File Release - Newsweek

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth offered an update on the Trump administration’s plans to release government files related to extraterrestrial life and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

Why It Matters

Last week, President Donald Trump said he would instruct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to start locating and making public government files pertaining to unidentified flying objects and potential extraterrestrial life.

A 2021 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 65 percent of Americans believed intelligent life may exist on other planets.

What To Know

Hegseth was in Colorado on Monday for his department’s “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, where he visited two commercial space companies.

In an interview published by C-SPAN, when a reporter asked Hegseth whether he ever imagined he would be responsible for disclosing information about alien life to the American public, he replied: “I did not have that on my bingo at all.”

Pressed on whether he was prepared to oversee that process, he said: “Of course, we’ve got our people working on it right now. I don't want to oversell how much time it will take, right? We're digging in. We're going to be in full compliance with that executive order, eager to provide that for the president. So, there'll be more coming on that as far as the process of what we'll do.”

Asked for a timeline, Hegseth responded: “I don't have a time frame for you yet, but stand by. We'll get it for you.”

And when asked whether he personally believed aliens exist, he answered: “We’ll see.” He added: “I get to do the review and find out along with you.”

Public interest in extraterrestrials spiked after former President Barack Obama discussed the subject during an interview with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen.

In a quick‑fire portion of the conversation, Obama replied “They’re real” when asked about aliens, then immediately clarified that he had never seen them himself and dismissed the notion that they were being kept at Area 51.

After his comments went viral, Obama sought to clarify his remarks, writing on social media: “I was trying to stick with the spirit of the speed round, but since it’s gotten attention let me clarify.

“Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there. But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances we’ve been visited by aliens is low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!”

What People Are Saying

Trump previously said on Truth Social: "Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters."

What Happens Next

As Newsweek noted previously, the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office maintains that it has found no evidence of extraterrestrial technology.

Update, 02/24/2026, 4:20 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.