First Congressional UFO Hearing in 50 Years

On May 17, 2022, the US House Intelligence Subcommittee held the first congressional hearing on UFOs since 1969. Pentagon officials testified about Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), acknowledged some remain unexplained, and presented video evidence. The hearing marked a watershed moment in official UFO disclosure.

The Setting

The hearing was held by:

• House Intelligence Subcommittee on Counterterrorism
• Chaired by Representative André Carson
• Attended by Pentagon officials
• Both classified and public sessions

Pentagon Witnesses

Testifying were:

• Scott Bray (Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence)
• Ronald Moultrie (Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence)
• Both confirmed UAP are a serious matter

Key Acknowledgments

The officials stated:

• UAP reports have increased significantly
• Some objects remain unexplained
• The phenomena deserve serious study
• National security implications exist

Video Evidence

The Pentagon presented:

• New UAP video footage
• Objects that couldn’t be identified
• Cases where conventional explanations failed
• Evidence of genuine anomalies

Statistical Information

The officials revealed:

• Significant increase in UAP reports
• Many cases have conventional explanations
• A subset remain genuinely unidentified
• Data collection is ongoing

AARO Establishment

The hearing discussed:

• The new All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)
• Permanent government UAP investigation
• Reduced stigma for reporting
• Systematic data collection

Historical Context

This was the first such hearing since:

• The Air Force’s Project Blue Book era
• Public UFO hearings in the 1960s
• 50+ years of official silence
• A generational shift in approach

Media Coverage

The hearing received:

• Major network coverage
• International attention
• Serious journalistic treatment
• Mainstream acceptance of the topic

What They Didn’t Say

Notable omissions:

• No admission of extraterrestrial origin
• No discussion of retrieved materials
• Limited discussion of pre-2004 cases
• Much remained classified

Congressional Reaction

Members of Congress:

• Expressed concern about UAP
• Demanded better data collection
• Called for reduced secrecy
• Promised continued oversight

Public Impact

The hearing demonstrated:

• UAP are now officially serious
• The government is investigating
• Some cases are genuinely unexplained
• Decades of dismissal were wrong

Follow-up Actions

After the hearing:

• AARO was formally established
• Annual reporting to Congress mandated
• Whistleblower protections discussed
• Additional hearings scheduled

Significance

The 2022 hearing was significant for:

• First UFO hearing in over 50 years
• Pentagon acknowledging UAP mystery
• Public presentation of evidence
• Official end to dismissive era
• Foundation for ongoing investigation

Legacy

May 17, 2022, marked the official return of UFOs to congressional concern. After decades of ridicule and dismissal, elected officials were openly discussing unexplained aerial phenomena—a turning point that validated decades of witness reports.