National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022

H.R. 4350 is the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, a broad defense spending and policy bill introduced by Rep. Adam Smith. It covers everything from military construction to nuclear weapons policy. One key section creates a new office within the Pentagon to handle unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), replacing an existing task force.

What is the new UAP office and what will it do?

The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to establish an office within the Office of the Secretary of Defense within 180 days. This office takes over the work of the existing Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force. The office will develop standard procedures across the entire Defense Department for collecting, reporting, and analyzing incidents involving unidentified aerial phenomena.

What are the office's specific duties?

The office must create procedures to standardize how the military collects and reports UAP incidents. It will maintain a central database of reports from all military branches. The office will also evaluate whether UAP incidents pose a threat to the U.S., check for links to foreign governments or other actors, and coordinate with other federal agencies and U.S. allies on UAP matters.

What reports must the Pentagon submit to Congress?

Starting December 31, 2022, and every year through 2026, the Secretary of Defense must submit an annual report to Congress. Each report covers the number of UAP incidents over U.S. restricted airspace, analysis of those incidents, potential national security threats, any activity linked to foreign governments, and whether any incidents suggest a foreign power has developed advanced aerospace technology. The reports must also include health effects data for people who encountered UAP and updates on efforts to capture or study discovered UAP.

How is unidentified aerial phenomena defined?

The bill defines unidentified aerial phenomena as airborne objects witnessed by a pilot or aircrew member that are not immediately identifiable.