A group of American members of Congress and prominent whistleblowers gathered on Tuesday at the Capitol in Washington to call for increased transparency regarding so-called UAP phenomena (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena), the U.S. government’s term for UFO sightings.

The participants urged the White House and Congress to strengthen protections for whistleblowers and to release more classified documents. Among the speakers was former intelligence officer David Grusch, a central figure in the debate over the UAP issue. During the press conference, Grusch claimed that the U.S. government is aware of several different forms of extraterrestrial life with varying degrees of complexity.

“The questions we are discussing here today are about more than just life in the universe,” said Grusch, referring to the national security concerns he believes UAP phenomena pose.

READ ALSO: Reports: Trump Preparing for UFO Revelation

At the same time, he accused people within the government of withholding information about UFO-related programs and claimed that political appointees have not complied with disclosure laws that have been enacted.

The press conference brought together both Republicans and Democrats. Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna stated that lawmakers want the White House to grant immunity to whistleblowers who provide information about UFO sightings, advanced technology, or sites where such objects are alleged to exist.

Treated Like Children

Republican Eric Burlison also argued for stronger protections for individuals who want to provide information to Congress. He said that for decades, the American people have been treated “like children” when it comes to the state’s secrets on this topic.

Burlison also called on President Donald Trump to lift confidentiality agreements that prevent UFO-related whistleblowers from speaking openly.

READ ALSO: New UFO Files Released – Executive Order May Bring Forward More Sensitive Information

Democratic Congressman Jared Moskowitz joined the demands for greater transparency.

“Disclosure today, disclosure tomorrow. The American people deserve to know,” he said.

Area 51

Several speakers emphasized that the issue is not just about possible evidence of extraterrestrial life. They also argued that Congress must get clarity on how the Department of Defense is using its resources and whether military authorities are withholding information from elected officials.

Republican Tim Burchett criticized what he described as obstacles to transparency. He joked that if members of Congress were allowed to visit the legendary military site Area 51, they would likely only receive a souvenir T-shirt, since—according to him—everything of interest would be moved before the visit.

The organizers behind the press conference want Congress and the Trump administration to release more UAP-related documents, strengthen protection for whistleblowers, and push through legislation that increases transparency around the phenomenon.

Among other things, the proposed UAP Disclosure Act is highlighted as a tool to force authorities to declassify and publish relevant documents.

The background is a long-standing conflict over how much information actually exists within U.S. agencies. Advocates for greater openness argue that the public and Congress still lack access to key documents despite years of hearings, testimonies, and promises of increased transparency. Several members of Congress have accused federal agencies of withholding information, something the agencies themselves have denied.

Craft

David Grusch became internationally known in 2023 when he publicly claimed that the U.S. government was hiding information about recovered craft of non-human origin as well as secret programs related to such findings.

Tuesday’s press conference marks the latest attempt by a growing group of politicians and activists to obtain more information about the unexplained sightings that in recent years have been reported by, among others, the U.S. military.

The press conference:

READ ALSO: Trump Pressed for Full Transparency on UFO Files