H.R. 8197 would terminate the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) at the Department of Defense within 60 days of becoming law. The bill also prohibits the Pentagon and the intelligence community from establishing any similar office with centralized authority over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) matters. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) introduced the measure on April 6, 2026, and it was referred to the Armed Services Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
What would happen to AARO's work?
The Secretary of Defense would have 60 days to shut down the office and transfer its functions to other parts of the Department of Defense as the Secretary sees fit. The bill does not specify which offices would take over AARO's responsibilities.
What does the bill define as UAP?
The bill defines unidentified anomalous phenomena as airborne objects that are not immediately identifiable, transmedium objects or devices (things that move between space and the atmosphere, or between the atmosphere and water), and submerged objects or devices that are not immediately identifiable and display behavior suggesting they may be related to airborne objects.
What laws would be repealed or changed?
The bill repeals Section 1683 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, which originally created AARO. It also amends or repeals several other sections from defense authorization acts from 2023, 2024, and 2026 that reference AARO or its functions, removing the office from those provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office?
AARO is the Pentagon office created in 2022 to centrally manage and investigate unidentified anomalous phenomena. The bill would shut it down.
terminate the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office of the Department of Defense
How long would the Secretary of Defense have to close AARO?
The Secretary would have 60 days after the bill becomes law to terminate the office and transfer its work to other Defense Department units.
Could a new centralized UAP office be created after this bill passes?
No. The bill prohibits both the Pentagon and the intelligence community from establishing any single office or entity with comprehensive or centralized authority over UAP matters.
The Secretary may not establish within the Department of Defense, and the Director of National Intelligence may not establish within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, a single office or other entity similar to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office that exercises comprehensive or centralized authority over matters relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena
Who introduced this bill and when?
Rep. Tim Burchett, a Republican from Tennessee's 2nd district, introduced H.R. 8197 on April 6, 2026. It was referred to the Armed Services Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Mr. Burchett introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Related Intelligence
AARO (All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office)
AARO is a Pentagon office established in 2022 to detect, identify, and investigate unidentified anomalous phenomena across U.S. military operations.
Open fileTrans-Medium UAP
Objects observed transitioning between air, water, and space without visible propulsion or structural change.
Open fileUnidentified Anomalous Phenomena
The term "unidentified anomalous phenomena" means-- (A) airborne objects that are not immediately identifiable; (B) transmedium objects or devices; and…
Open file