Pentagon begins releasing new files on UFOs and says the public can draw its own conclusions

This photo is from the US Air Force's "The Roswell Report," released June 24, 1997, which discusses the alleged UFO incident in Roswell, N.M., in 1947. (U..S Air Force via AP, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has begun releasing new files on UFOs, saying members of the public can draw their own conclusions on “unidentified anomalous phenomena” like an object that a drone pilot says shone a bright light in the sky and then vanished.

It said in a post on X on Friday that while past administrations sought to discredit or dissuade the American people, President Donald Trump “is focused on providing maximum transparency to the public, who can ultimately make up their own minds about the information contained in these files.” It said additional documents will be released on a rolling basis.

Besides the Pentagon, the effort is led by the White House, the director of national intelligence, the Energy Department, NASA and the FBI.