Senator Hawley Claims US Downplays UFO Sightings: The Hill

Senator Josh Hawley (R – Mo.) has expressed surprise at the number of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) encountered by the U.S. government, suggesting that the figures have been significantly downplayed, The Hill reports.

Government Downplays UAP Sightings

While unable to verify the allegations of whistleblower David Grusch — a former member of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency — Hawley indicated that government reports have shown numerous UAP sightings that remain “unaccounted for.” Grusch has recently filed a complaint, alleging that the U.S. government has been recovering non-human craft for decades.

Chinese Spy Balloon Incident

Hawley also referred to the government’s response to a Chinese spy balloon spotted over the U.S. in January, stating that one part of the government actively concealed the incident from other parts. He believes that Grusch’s claims align with what he has heard in briefings.

Lawmakers Remain Skeptical

However, not all lawmakers share Hawley’s views. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham expressed skepticism, arguing that if there were physical evidence of a spacecraft, it would have been revealed by now. Despite this, Hawley maintains that the government is adept at keeping secrets when necessary.

UAPs and the Defense Department

The Defense Department’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) defines a UAP as “anything in space, in the air, on land, in the sea or under the sea that can’t be identified and might pose a threat to U.S. military installations or operations”. To date, the Pentagon has stated that no verifiable information has been found to substantiate claims of programs regarding the possession or reverse engineering of extraterrestrial materials.

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