House Oversight Committee Holds a Hearing on UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection
On September 9, 2025, the House Oversight and Government Reform Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets held a high-profile hearing titled Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection. The hearing brought together military veterans, whistleblowers, journalists, and lawmakers to address recent unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) incidents, the government’s classification of evidence, and alleged reprisals against those who report UAPs.Key Revelations & Evidence1. New Video Presented by Rep. Eric BurlisonRep. Eric Burlison unveiled never-before-seen video footage from October 30, 2024, allegedly showing:An MQ-9 Reaper drone tracking a glowing orb (or object) off the coast of Yemen.Another MQ-9 launching a Hellfire missile aimed at the orb.The missile appears to impact—but rather than destroying or disabling the object, the orb continues on its trajectory, seemingly unaffected. Debris may follow it.The video was reportedly received via a whistleblower and was “scrubbed” of identifying metadata. Burlison claimed he didn’t know the source.2. Testimony from Dylan Borland & OthersDylan Borland, a former U.S. Air Force geospatial intelligence specialist and whistleblower, gave detailed testimony including:A 2012 incident at Langley Air Force Base: while on base at night, Borland said he witnessed a ~100-foot equilateral triangle craft hovering above him. The craft had no sound, produced no wind or kinetic disturbance, and its material appeared “fluid or dynamic.” After a few minutes, it accelerated rapidly to commercial-jet altitude and departed.He testified that his reports to the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) were dismissed, and that he has endured career retaliation, including manipulation of his security clearance, denial of recognition for work performed, and difficulty obtaining future employment.3. Core Issues RaisedWhat “Extraterrestrial” Evidence Means?Borland challenged AARO’s public statements, specifically its claim that no scientific evidence exists for extraterrestrial origin of UAPs. Borland argued that the standard used is misleading:“Scientific evidence requires a scientific control. Extraterrestrial is an entity on another planet. The only way to scientifically prove extraterrestrial is we have to go to that planet, acquire technology, bring it back and compare…”He contends that while we may not have definitive proof fitting that exact definition, there is evidence of UAPs “not of ours” that is plainly ignored or under-reported.Transparency & Secrecy DiscrepanciesMultiple lawmakers, veterans, and witnesses pressed on why key video evidence, reports, and data have long been withheld from both Congress and the public. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and others accused the Defense Department and intelligence community of lack of transparency and possibly cover-ups.Borland and others said that AARO’s public reports don’t match what has been witnessed in reality, suggesting that AARO assessments either omit or “misrepresent” certain kinds of UAP data.3. Reactions & ImplicationsWitnesses broadly agreed that the video was startling and raised serious questions about U.S. military readiness, existing weapons efficacy, and whether adversaries may be developing or employing tech beyond what is known.Some members of Congress from both parties expressed concern that UAPs could represent foreign adversary capabilities or other national security threats.The audience reaction: when Rep. Luna asked witnesses if they were scared by what they saw in the video, most said yes.4. Unanswered QuestionsThe Pentagon has declined to authenticate the video or comment definitively. Its origins, editing, and full sensor data are not public.Borland’s remarks highlight that the legal, scientific, and bureaucratic definitions being used by AARO and elsewhere may be too strict or may cause miscommunication about what counts as evidence.Much concern was raised about how many incidents (videos, radar tracks, witness reports) are held in classified systems, not accessible to oversight bodies or the public.The hearing marked a significant moment in the ongoing UAP debate in Congress. Between the release of striking, previously unseen video of a Hellfire missile apparently bouncing off an unidentified aerial object, veterans’ and whistleblowers’ vivid firsthand testimony, and pointed questions about how the government handles UAP data, this session amplified calls for greater transparency, oversight, and protection.
