Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said Wednesday that if the American public knew what he knows about unidentified aerial phenomena, they would lose sleep over it.
The Republican congressman told Newsmax host Rob Finnerty that he has been briefed by nearly every U.S. intelligence agency on the issue. 'If they would release the things that I’ve seen, you would stay up at night worrying about or thinking about this stuff,' Burchett said.
Burchett also said he received a classified briefing two weeks ago on a related matter that he said would have caused significant public reaction. 'It would’ve set the earth on — this country would’ve come unglued, I think, if they would’ve heard all that I’d heard,' he said.
The Tennessee Republican has been a vocal advocate for UFO disclosure. In an appearance on NewsNation's 'The Hill' in April 2024, Burchett said there is a cover-up and that tens of millions of dollars have been spent investigating these phenomena. He noted that departments have told Congress they have recovery units but refuse to release full reports.
In February, President Trump announced on Truth Social that he would direct the Pentagon and other agencies to release government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, UAP, and UFOs. 'I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life,' Trump wrote.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive critics and some Democratic lawmakers have expressed caution about the push for UFO disclosure, arguing that the focus on unidentified aerial phenomena distracts from more pressing policy priorities. Some have questioned whether recent statements from Republican lawmakers are designed to generate media attention rather than address substantive oversight concerns.
Others on the left have raised questions about the classified briefings, noting that without access to the actual information shared with congressmen like Burchett, it's difficult to evaluate specific claims. Civil liberties advocates have also cautioned that any disclosure must balance transparency with protecting legitimate national security interests.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative supporters of UFO disclosure, including Burchett and other members of Congress, argue that the American people have a right to know what the government knows about unidentified aerial phenomena. They point to decades of secrecy and suggest that certain information has been improperly classified.
Burchett has framed disclosure as a matter of government accountability. 'We just need to disclose it all. I’m sick of it,' he told Newsmax. The push for transparency has drawn support from some Republican colleagues who have pushed for declassification of UAP-related documents during congressional hearings.
What the Numbers Show
Congress has allocated tens of millions of dollars to UAP investigation programs in recent years. The Department of Defense established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to investigate sightings across military and civilian domains.
Since 2022, Congress has held multiple hearings on the issue, with former intelligence officials providing testimony about alleged government recovery programs for craft of 'non-human origin.' The number of reported UAP sightings has increased significantly since 2019, though officials attribute much of that increase to reduced stigma and improved reporting mechanisms.
Trump's February announcement marked the first time a president has explicitly ordered a declassification review of alien and extraterrestrial-related materials, though previous administrations have taken steps toward greater transparency on UAPs.
The Bottom Line
Burchett's latest comments reflect ongoing pressure from some members of Congress for greater UAP transparency. The debate centers on how much information the public should receive about unidentified aerial phenomena and whether decades of classification were justified.
What remains unclear is exactly what Burchett has been shown or briefed on, as the congressman has not provided specifics. The White House has not yet released a timeline for any potential document declassification. Watch for upcoming congressional hearings and any administrative actions on UAP disclosure that could shed light on what information exists — and what might eventually become public.