House Oversight Committee UAP Hearing

On July 26, 2023, the House Oversight Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs held a public hearing titled "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency." Three witnesses testified under oath: former Navy F-18 pilot Ryan Graves, former intelligence officer David Grusch, and retired Navy Commander David Fravor. The hearing drew wide public attention and was described by subcommittee Chairman Rep. Glenn Grothman as "the most exciting Subcommittee in Congress this week."

Who testified and what were their roles?

Ryan Graves served as an F-18 pilot for a decade and now leads Americans for Safe Aerospace, an organization that has gathered accounts from more than 30 commercial and military pilots. David Grusch was a 14-year intelligence officer who served as his agency's co-lead on UAP analysis and later filed a whistleblower complaint with the Intelligence Community Inspector General in May 2022. David Fravor is a retired Navy Commander who was the commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 41 and personally witnessed the 2004 Tic Tac encounter off the coast of California.

What did each witness say?

Graves told the subcommittee that UAP sightings are "routine" and that pilots frequently see objects performing maneuvers that cannot be explained by known technology. He described a 2014 incident in which a dark gray or black cube inside a clear sphere came within 50 feet of a Navy F-18. He also said that since 2021, all UAP videos are classified at the secret level or above, which he argued impedes understanding and fuels speculation and mistrust. Grusch stated under oath that he was informed, during his official duties, of a "multi-decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program" and that he was denied access when he requested more information. He also told Rep. Garcia that he believes the U.S. government is in possession of UAPs, based on interviews with over 40 witnesses over four years. Fravor described the 2004 Tic Tac object as moving in ways no known aircraft can replicate, including descending from above 80,000 feet, hovering for extended periods, and accelerating away instantly. He said the object was "far superior to anything that we had, have today, or looking to develop in the next 10 years."

What did members of Congress highlight?

Rep. Tim Burchett called the hearing a nonpartisan issue and said he had faced roadblocks from the intelligence community when trying to pass legislation requiring pilot UAP sightings to be reported to Congress. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna stated that 68 percent of Americans, according to one poll, believe the government is hiding information about UAPs. She also noted that members were denied access to a classified briefing before the hearing. Rep. Jared Moskowitz cited the All-Domain Resolution Office, created by the NDAA of 2022, noting that its initial analysis included 171 uncharacterized UAP reports that "appear to have demonstrated unusual flight characteristics or performance capabilities." Ranking Member Rep. Robert Garcia emphasized the need for a safe and transparent reporting process for both military and commercial pilots.

What concerns did witnesses raise about reporting and safety?

All three witnesses agreed that the current reporting system is inadequate. Graves said commercial pilots have no formal system to report UAP encounters and fear professional consequences if they come forward. Fravor called it "a travesty" that no centralized system exists to collect and investigate reports. Grusch described retaliation against whistleblowers as "administrative terrorism" and said he has knowledge of active planned reprisal activity against himself and colleagues. Both Graves and Fravor confirmed that the objects they and others observed perform maneuvers outside the scope of any known technology.

What is the significance of this hearing?

Grusch's sworn claim that a multi-decade crash retrieval and reverse engineering program exists, and his statement that he personally knows of people harmed in efforts to conceal this information, marked an unprecedented moment in public congressional UAP proceedings. The hearing also produced bipartisan calls for a centralized UAP reporting system and greater declassification of older UAP records.