Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), co-chair of the Congressional UAP Caucus, reported on September 11, 2026 that unidentified anomalous phenomena disclosure efforts are being managed at the highest levels of the Trump administration. Burchett's statement reflects ongoing efforts to accelerate government transparency on classified UAP programs despite bureaucratic resistance.
Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee confirmed on September 11, 2026 that unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) disclosure efforts are being handled at the "highest levels" of President Donald Trump's White House administration. This assertion by the influential Republican congressman, who co-chairs the Congressional UAP Caucus, provides an update on the status of Trump's broader transparency initiative on classified UAP programs that began in February 2026.
Burchett's statement comes as part of ongoing congressional momentum to accelerate UAP declassification efforts. The congressman has become a central figure in Capitol Hill's push for greater government transparency on UAP encounters, military sightings, and alleged secret programs involving recovered craft. His comments suggest that senior White House officials—potentially including President Trump himself or key advisors like Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller—are directly engaged in overseeing the release of classified UAP materials.
The disclosure effort being referenced is anchored in Trump's February 19, 2026 executive directive ordering the Pentagon and federal agencies to identify and release classified files related to UAPs and extraterrestrial life. This initiative, operationalized through the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE) Task Force, has already resulted in five tranches of declassified documents, videos, and photographs released between May and August 2026. The releases have included military encounter videos, thermal imaging footage, witness accounts, and historical records spanning from the 1940s to recent 2026 incidents.
Burchett has previously criticized what he characterizes as bureaucratic obstruction of Trump's disclosure mandate. In interviews earlier this year, the congressman stated that the federal "deep state" is blocking full UAP disclosure from reaching the president's desk, and that intelligence community officials have told him the president operates on a "need-to-know basis." Despite these obstacles, Burchett maintains that White House engagement remains active and committed to advancing transparency.
The congressman emphasized that while significant progress has been made through the five PURSUE tranches and the recent establishment of the UAP Science Advisory Council in June 2026, substantial additional materials remain classified. A sixth tranche was expected to be released within weeks as of early August, but has not yet materialized as of September 11. This delay has fueled speculation about whether internal resistance within the intelligence community or the Department of War is slowing the declassification pipeline.
Burchett's involvement in UAP disclosure policy has intensified following his June 2026 Capitol Hill event alongside whistleblower David Grusch, where he renewed calls for full release of classified UAP records and greater protections for government whistleblowers willing to come forward. The congressman has also coordinated with White House officials including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, discussing both the substance of UAP programs and strategies to overcome organizational resistance to disclosure.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, on which Luna and Burchett serve, continues to press the Pentagon for compliance with its March 31 request for 46 specific classified UAP videos. The Pentagon's missed April 14 deadline for producing these materials has underscored the ongoing tension between congressional demands for transparency and Pentagon efforts to maintain classification of certain materials for national security reasons.
Burchett's latest statement reinforces that UAP disclosure remains an active priority within the Trump administration, despite the pace of releases slowing in recent weeks. Congressional sources suggest that the administration intends to maintain its commitment to the PURSUE initiative, though the exact timeline for future tranches and the scope of information to be released remain uncertain. The congressman indicated that legislative efforts to strengthen whistleblower protections, passed earlier in summer 2026, may help facilitate additional disclosures by current and former government employees.
