H.R. 5231, the Safe Airspace for Americans Act, would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to build a standardized system for collecting, reporting, and investigating UAP (unidentified anomalous phenomena) incidents reported by aviation personnel. The bill also includes strong protections for pilots, air traffic controllers, and other aviation workers who spot or report UAP, shielding them from job loss, certificate revocation, or other retaliation.
What would the FAA have to do under this bill?
Within 180 days of the bill becoming law, the FAA Administrator would need to develop procedures to standardize how UAP incidents are collected, reported, and analyzed. That includes archiving pilot-controller communications and radar data right away when an incident occurs. The FAA would also need to evaluate the threat UAP incidents pose to the safety of the national airspace system.
The FAA would choose between using the existing Aviation Safety Reporting Program or setting up a new, dedicated reporting system just for UAP. Either way, the system would need to capture descriptions of the object and its apparent movement. The bill also requires the FAA to launch a public communications strategy within 180 days to publicize the reporting process and reduce stigma around reporting.
Who would the FAA coordinate with?
The bill requires the FAA to coordinate with several other federal agencies, including the Secretary of Defense, the Director of National Intelligence, NASA, the Secretary of Homeland Security, NOAA, the National Science Foundation, and the Secretary of Energy. The FAA would also be required to share all reports and archived incident data with the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) at the Department of Defense.
What protections does the bill offer to aviation workers?
The bill includes several layers of protection. Spotting or reporting a UAP cannot be used against a pilot when evaluating their medical certificate or airmen certificate. Federal employees and contractors cannot face retaliation, including security clearance revocation or termination, for reporting UAP. Airlines and commercial operators are also barred from retaliating against employees or issuing cease-and-desist letters to anyone who reports UAP to the FAA.
Who introduced the bill and where does it stand?
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA-42) introduced the bill on September 9, 2025, with co-sponsors Rep. Grothman, Rep. Moskowitz, and Rep. Ogles. It was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. As of September 10, 2025, it was referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.