The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 is an annual bill that sets defense policy and spending authority for the Department of Defense. Among its many provisions, it includes a new rule requiring the Pentagon to disclose details of any unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) research conducted under secrecy before federal funds can be used to support such activities.
What is the UAP funding restriction?
Section 1544 of the bill blocks the Pentagon from spending any 2025 defense money on UAP activities that are protected by special access or restricted access limitations (forms of government secrecy) unless the Secretary of Defense first provides details to Congress. This applies to any activities described in a report released by the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office in fiscal year 2024.
Who has to be told about UAP research?
The Pentagon must brief two groups. First, the appropriate congressional committees: the defense committees in both chambers and the intelligence committees in both chambers. Second, congressional leadership: the Senate majority and minority leaders, the House Speaker, and the House minority leader.
What counts as UAP under this rule?
The bill uses the official government definition of unidentified anomalous phenomena from the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, as updated by the 2023 Intelligence Authorization Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this bill do about UAP research?
Section 1544 requires the Pentagon to tell Congress about any unidentified anomalous phenomena research that is kept secret before the Pentagon can spend 2025 defense money on it. The rule covers any activities described in a report released by the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office in fiscal year 2024.
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act for fiscal year 2025 for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended in support of any activities involving unidentified anomalous phenomena protected under any form of special access or restricted access limitations unless the Secretary of Defense has provided the details of the activity to the appropriate congressional committees and congressional leadership
Which committees need to be briefed about UAP activities?
The Pentagon must brief the congressional defense committees and the Senate and House intelligence committees. It must also brief the Senate majority and minority leaders, the House Speaker, and the House minority leader.
Does this rule apply to all UAP research?
No. The rule only applies to UAP activities that are protected by special access or restricted access limitations, which are forms of government secrecy. UAP research conducted openly would not trigger this requirement.
any activities involving unidentified anomalous phenomena protected under any form of special access or restricted access limitations
Related Intelligence
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena
Unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) is the official U.S. government term for objects or devices in the air, underwater, or moving between both that can't be readily identified.
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