Published on March 20, 2024
Congressional Briefing Packet: Evaluating the DoD's Response to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena through the Lens of Recent Reports
This briefing packet provides a comprehensive analysis of three crucial reports on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP): the Department of Defense Inspector General's evaluation, the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office's Historical Record Review Vol. 1, and the Joint Staff's message on UAP reporting procedures. By examining the findings, contradictions, and recommendations from these reports, the packet aims to equip Congressional members and the public with a thorough understanding and critical insights necessary for informed engagement on the nuanced issue of UAP. The packet highlights the need for a coordinated, data-driven approach to UAP investigations, increased transparency, and the establishment of a UAP subcommittee within the House Oversight Committee. In an era demanding heightened accountability and transparency, this briefing packet serves as a essential resource for ensuring clarity in policy and effective oversight of the DoD's response to UAP.
Executive Summary
The issue of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) has gained significant attention in recent years, with increasing implications for national security, technological advancement, and aviation safety. This briefing packet provides a comprehensive analysis of three crucial reports: the Department of Defense Inspector General's (DoD IG) evaluation, the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office's (AARO) Historical Record Review Vol. 1, and the Joint Staff's message on UAP reporting procedures. By examining the findings, contradictions, and recommendations from these reports, this packet aims to inform Congressional leaders and the public about the current state of the DoD's response to UAP and the urgent need for enhanced oversight and coordination.
The DoD IG's evaluation, released publicly in January 2024, reveals significant shortcomings in the DoD's approach to UAP, including the absence of a coordinated strategy, fragmented efforts across DoD Components, insufficient interagency cooperation, and potential risks to national security. The AARO Historical Record Review Vol. 1, released in March 2024, while dismissing extraterrestrial hypotheses, acknowledges the lack of sufficient data and analysis, raising questions about the thoroughness of their investigation. The Joint Staff's message on UAP reporting procedures, disseminated in May 2023, underscores the growing priority of addressing UAP and the need for standardized detection and reporting guidelines.
The contradictions and discrepancies among these reports highlight the DoD's struggle to establish a unified message and a comprehensive approach to the UAP phenomenon. The slow implementation of the DoD IG's recommendations further emphasizes the need for Congressional oversight and support in developing a rigorous, data-driven response to UAP.
This briefing packet argues for the establishment of a UAP subcommittee within the House Oversight Committee, as requested by members of Congress following the release of the AARO report. The seriousness with which the DoD is attempting to address UAP sightings in U.S. airspace and abroad lends credence to the idea that the government may possess non-prosaic UAP materials, as alleged by whistleblowers like David Grusch.
Furthermore, the briefing packet emphasizes the importance of the Safe Airspace for Americans Act (H.R.6967), which aims to establish procedures and reporting requirements for UAP incidents reported by civilian aviation personnel, further underscoring the need for a comprehensive approach to UAP investigations.
By delving into the historical timeline, key findings, contradictions, and recommendations from these reports, this packet provides the necessary context and insights for Congress to take decisive action in ensuring transparency, accountability, and a coordinated approach to the UAP issue, ultimately safeguarding national security and the public trust.
Historical Timeline
Key Findings
The Department of Defense Inspector General's comprehensive evaluation of the DoD's approach to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) reveals systemic challenges that necessitate significant strategic and operational reforms. Through an in-depth review of policies, procedures, and actions for detecting, reporting, collecting, analyzing, and identifying UAP, the evaluation underscores a notable absence of a coordinated, department-wide approach. This lack of coordination has resulted in the exclusion of key geographic combatant commands and the development of varying processes across different DoD Components, leading to inefficiencies and potential security risks. The findings highlight the critical need for a unified strategy to enhance the DoD's ability to understand, identify, and protect against unidentified phenomena that may present safety threats to military personnel and territory. The following points delve deeper into these systemic issues, providing a detailed account of the current state of UAP handling within the Department of Defense and laying the groundwork for the recommended strategic overhauls.
Lack of a Comprehensive, Coordinated Approach
The DoD IG's report highlights the absence of a unified strategy across DoD Components, resulting in fragmented efforts, inconsistent data collection and analysis, and potential security risks. The AARO Historical Record Review Vol. 1, while dismissing extraterrestrial hypotheses, acknowledges the lack of sufficient data and analysis, further emphasizing the need for a coordinated approach.
Inadequate UAP Response Plan
The DoD IG's evaluation reveals that the DoD has not established a comprehensive response plan outlining roles, responsibilities, and coordination procedures for handling UAP incidents. This lack of a structured framework has led to an uncoordinated approach among Military Departments and Major Defense Component Organizations.
The expectation was for the DoD to first issue comprehensive UAP guidance, which would then inform and guide the development of more specific procedures within each Military Department and MDCO. The resulting standstill has not only hampered the development of tailored UAP procedures within these entities but also underscored the critical need for a DoD-wide UAP response plan that integrates all components of the defense establishment in a coordinated effort to address UAP incidents.
Exclusion of Geographic Combatant Commands
The DoD IG's report identifies the underutilization of geographic combatant commands in the DoD's existing UAP processes. Given their critical role in detecting and preventing threats, the exclusion of these commands represents a significant gap in the DoD's collective response to UAP.
This exclusion is notable because these commands operate across vast areas where they are directly responsible for the security of the United States and its territories, making them ideally positioned to contribute to the detection and analysis of UAP incidents.
Varying Detection and Reporting Processes
A critical issue in the current approach to UAP within the DoD: the development of diverse and informal processes by DoD Components for the detection and reporting of UAP incidents. This variation stems largely from the absence of comprehensive DoD-level guidance, leading to inconsistencies in how UAP incidents are documented and managed across different branches and units of the military. The lack of standardized procedures not only introduces potential for oversight but also complicates the aggregation and analysis of UAP data, which is essential for understanding the nature and implications of these phenomena.
Addressing this issue requires the establishment of unified detection and reporting guidelines that can be applied across all DoD Components. Such guidelines would ensure that UAP incidents are documented in a consistent manner, facilitating more effective data collection, analysis, and ultimately, a more informed and coordinated response to UAP incidents. The integration of standardized processes is a crucial step towards enhancing the DoD's capability to assess and address the challenges posed by UAP with the requisite rigor and comprehensiveness.
Growing Priority and National Security Implications
The Joint Staff's message on UAP reporting procedures, disseminated in May 2023, marks a significant shift in the military's approach to the UAP phenomenon. The message underscores the increasing priority placed on observing, identifying, and mitigating UAP by policymakers, lawmakers, and warfighters alike. It emphasizes the potential national security implications of UAP, which range from operational hazards and threats to technological and intelligence surprises.
The message states that "the potentially ubiquitous presence of UAP defines the national security implications of those anomalies," highlighting the need for the DoD to provide comprehensive reporting, data, and material for the detection and mitigation of potential threats, exploitation of advanced technologies, and informing decision-makers. This acknowledgment of the pervasive nature of UAP and their potential impact on national security underscores the urgency of developing a coordinated, data-driven approach to UAP investigations and response.
Moreover, the message introduces heightened reporting requirements, with UAP engagement reports to be submitted within 12 hours, indicating a growing sense of urgency in addressing UAP incidents. The ultimate nexus of collection and analysis of these reports is the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), further emphasizing the need for a centralized, coordinated effort in understanding and mitigating the UAP phenomenon.
Contradictions and Insufficient Data
The DoD IG's evaluation and the AARO Historical Record Review Vol. 1 present contradictory conclusions, despite both acknowledging the lack of sufficient data and analysis. The DoD IG's report highlights significant inadequacies in the DoD's handling of UAP incidents, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive, coordinated approach. In contrast, the AARO report dismisses extraterrestrial hypotheses and draws conclusions that appear premature given the admitted insufficiency of data.
This discrepancy raises questions about the thoroughness and objectivity of the AARO investigation and suggests that the DoD has yet to establish a robust framework for understanding and addressing the UAP phenomenon. The contradictory nature of these conclusions underscores the need for a more rigorous, data-driven approach to UAP investigations and the importance of implementing the recommendations outlined in the DoD IG's report.
Furthermore, the DoD OIG spokesperson's response to the Liberation Times' inquiry regarding the implementation of recommendations from the August 2023 classified report reveals that only one recommendation had been fully implemented, while the other ten were still in progress, as of January 29, 2024. This slow progress in addressing the identified shortcomings, despite the establishment of AARO and the growing priority placed on UAP by the Joint Staff, further highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the DoD in effectively tackling the UAP issue.
Department Of Defense’s Alarming Inaction
Liberation Times (January 29, 2024)
These contradictions and the insufficient data emphasize the need for increased Congressional oversight and support in ensuring a comprehensive, transparent, and accountable approach to UAP investigations. The establishment of a UAP subcommittee within the House Oversight Committee, as requested by members of Congress following the release of the AARO report, would be a crucial step in providing the necessary guidance and resources to address this complex and multifaceted phenomenon.
Contradictions
The recent release of the AARO Historical Record Review Vol. 1 and the Joint Staff's message on UAP reporting procedures has brought to light significant contradictions and inconsistencies in the DoD's approach to the UAP phenomenon. These discrepancies, when viewed alongside the findings of the DoD IG's evaluation, highlight the need for a more coherent, data-driven response to UAP and increased Congressional oversight.
Dismissal of Extraterrestrial Hypotheses Despite Insufficient Data
The AARO Historical Record Review Vol. 1 dismisses extraterrestrial hypotheses, stating that it found no empirical evidence of UAP representing off-world technology or the existence of classified programs not reported to Congress. However, this conclusion appears premature given the acknowledged lack of sufficient data and analysis in both the AARO report and the DoD IG's evaluation. The contradictory nature of these findings raises questions about the thoroughness and objectivity of the AARO investigation and suggests that the DoD has yet to establish a robust framework for understanding and addressing the UAP phenomenon.Inconsistencies Between DoD IG's Findings and Joint Staff's Priorities
The Joint Staff's message on UAP reporting procedures, released just months before the AARO Historical Record Review Vol. 1, emphasizes the growing priority of addressing UAP and the potential national security implications of these phenomena. This heightened sense of urgency and the acknowledgment of the pervasive nature of UAP stand in stark contrast to the AARO report's dismissal of extraterrestrial hypotheses and its conclusions based on admittedly insufficient data. Moreover, the Joint Staff's message reinforces the need for comprehensive reporting, data, and material for the detection and mitigation of potential threats, which is inconsistent with the fragmented efforts and lack of a coordinated approach highlighted in the DoD IG's evaluation.Slow Implementation of DoD IG's Recommendations
The DoD OIG spokesperson's response to the Liberation Times' inquiry regarding the implementation of recommendations from the August 2023 classified report reveals that only one recommendation had been fully implemented, while the other ten were still in progress. This slow progress in addressing the identified shortcomings, despite the establishment of AARO and the growing priority placed on UAP by the Joint Staff, further stresses the ongoing challenges faced by the DoD in effectively tackling the UAP issue. The inconsistency between the urgency conveyed in the Joint Staff's message and the pace of implementing critical reforms underscores the need for increased Congressional oversight and support.
These contradictions and inconsistencies among the various reports and communications from the DoD emphasizes the importance of a more rigorous, data-driven approach to UAP investigations and the need for increased transparency and accountability. The establishment of a UAP subcommittee within the House Oversight Committee, as requested by members of Congress, would provide the necessary guidance and resources to address these discrepancies and ensure a comprehensive, coordinated response to the UAP phenomenon.
Recommendations
In light of the findings and contradictions identified in the DoD IG's evaluation, the AARO Historical Record Review Vol. 1, and the Joint Staff's message on UAP reporting procedures, the following recommendations are proposed to enhance the Department of Defense's approach to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena:
Implement DoD IG's Recommendations
The DoD should swiftly act upon the 11 recommendations outlined in the DoD IG's evaluation, ensuring that all necessary reforms are implemented in a timely manner. These recommendations include:
a. Issuing a comprehensive DoD policy to integrate UAP roles, responsibilities, and coordination procedures into existing intelligence, counterintelligence, and force protection policies.
b. Issuing interim guidance by the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force for UAP detection, reporting, and coordination with geographic combatant commands.
c. Issuing guidance by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to geographic combatant commanders regarding UAP detection, reporting, collection, analysis, and identification within their areas of responsibility.
Congress should closely monitor the progress of these implementations and provide oversight to guarantee their effectiveness.
Establish a UAP Subcommittee within the House Oversight Committee
Given the contradictions and inconsistencies among the various reports and communications from the DoD, it is crucial that Congress establishes a UAP subcommittee within the House Oversight Committee, as requested by members of Congress following the release of the AARO report. This subcommittee would provide the necessary guidance, resources, and oversight to ensure a comprehensive, coordinated response to the UAP phenomenon, addressing the complexities and challenges highlighted by the DoD IG's evaluation, the AARO Historical Record Review Vol. 1, and the Joint Staff's message on UAP reporting procedures.
Formal Request Letter to House Speaker Johnson and Democratic Leader Jeffries For UAP Subcommittee
March 12, 2024
Enhance Transparency and Public Engagement
The DoD should prioritize transparency in its UAP-related efforts, providing regular updates to Congress and the public on the progress of investigations and the implementation of reforms. Increased transparency will help build public trust and ensure that the DoD is held accountable for addressing this critical issue effectively. Additionally, the DoD should establish clear channels for reporting UAP sightings and encounters, both for military personnel and civilians, to ensure that all relevant data is collected and analyzed in a timely and efficient manner.
Safe Airspace for Americans Act (H.R.6967)
Introduced January 19, 2024 in House Oversight and referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation
The Safe Airspace for Americans Act (H.R.6967) is a crucial piece of legislation that aims to establish procedures and reporting requirements for UAP incidents reported by civilian aircrew, air traffic controllers, flight attendants, aviation maintenance personnel, aviation dispatchers, air carriers or operators, and airports. By requiring the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to develop these procedures, the Act seeks to ensure that all relevant UAP data from the civilian aviation sector is properly collected, analyzed, and shared with the appropriate authorities. The passage of this Act would significantly enhance the transparency and public engagement aspects of UAP investigations, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon.
Allocate Sufficient Resources and Expertise
Congress should ensure that the DoD has the necessary resources, funding, and expertise to conduct thorough and rigorous UAP investigations. This includes providing support for the development of advanced technologies and analytical tools, as well as the recruitment and training of specialized personnel. Moreover, the DoD should collaborate with other government agencies, academic institutions, and private sector organizations to leverage their expertise and resources in understanding and mitigating the UAP phenomenon.
Foster International Cooperation
Given the global nature of the UAP phenomenon, the DoD should engage with allies and partners to establish international protocols for reporting, sharing, and analyzing UAP-related information. Collaborative efforts in research, technology development, and data exchange will enhance the collective understanding of UAP and facilitate a more effective, coordinated response to potential threats and challenges posed by these phenomena.
The United States should also look to the European Union's ongoing efforts to incorporate UAP reporting requirements into the proposed EU Space Law (EUSL). Led by Portuguese Member of European Parliament (MEP) Francisco Guerreiro, this initiative aims to establish a standardized framework for reporting and investigating UAP sightings and encounters within the EU. The inclusion of UAP reporting requirements in the EUSL demonstrates the growing recognition of the importance of addressing the UAP phenomenon at an international level.
Motion For A Resolution on updating the EU Regulation to include UAP reporting
Introduced March 11, 2024
The DoD should collaborate with the EU and other international partners to share best practices, exchange data, and develop a coordinated approach to UAP investigations. By learning from and building alongside the EU's efforts, the United States can strengthen its own UAP reporting and investigation protocols while fostering a global, cooperative effort to understand and mitigate the potential risks and challenges associated with UAP.
Moreover, international cooperation in UAP research and investigations can help to reduce duplication of efforts, maximize resources, and accelerate progress in understanding this complex phenomenon. The DoD should actively seek opportunities to engage with international partners and contribute to the development of global standards and guidelines for UAP reporting, analysis, and response.
In conclusion, this briefing packet presents a thorough analysis of the recent reports on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena and the Department of Defense's response to this issue. By highlighting the contradictions and discrepancies among the DoD IG's evaluation, the AARO Historical Record Review Vol. 1, and the Joint Staff's message on UAP reporting procedures, the packet highlights the urgent need for a more coordinated, data-driven approach to UAP investigations. The establishment of a UAP subcommittee within the House Oversight Committee, as requested by members of Congress, would provide the necessary guidance, resources, and oversight to address the complexities and challenges surrounding the UAP phenomenon. Moreover, the recommendations outlined in this packet, including the swift implementation of the DoD IG's recommendations, enhanced transparency and public engagement, allocation of sufficient resources and expertise, and fostering of international cooperation, are essential steps in ensuring a comprehensive and effective response to the UAP issue. As the global implications of UAP become increasingly apparent, it is imperative that Congress takes decisive action to safeguard national security and maintain public trust in the face of this complex and multifaceted phenomenon.