Unidentified aerial phenomena whistleblower and former Air Force intelligence officer David Grusch accused intelligence agencies Tuesday of hiding billions of dollars in secret government spending from Congress, as lawmakers renewed demands for records they say federal officials continue to withhold.
Grusch told members of the House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets that his investigation uncovered what he described as 'slush funds' — pools of money allegedly operating outside normal congressional oversight channels — worth billions of dollars annually used to support activities beyond standard government accounting.
"This is also a real fraud, waste and abuse issue," Grusch said. "During my investigation, I found slush funds to the tune of billions of dollars per annum for these activities."
What the Left Is Saying
Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., described a pattern of resistance from federal agencies when lawmakers attempted to obtain information about unidentified anomalous phenomena.
"We would ask questions, and they would then push back. We would ask more questions, and the pushback became more significant," Moskowitz said. "We would try to put language in an amendment, in a bill, and they would oppose it."
Moskowitz tied the debate to broader concerns about Pentagon accountability, citing what he called missing trillions of dollars at the Defense Department.
"There's trillions of dollars missing at the Pentagon. Where does that money go?" he asked.
The congressman joined Grusch in calling for greater transparency and said agencies have systematically resisted congressional oversight requests related to UAP programs.
What the Right Is Saying
Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., called for President Donald Trump to waive nondisclosure agreements for individuals with knowledge of alleged government UAP programs and grant immunity to those willing to testify publicly.
"Grant immunity to anyone who has already come forward, and everyone who will come forward," Burlison said. "Open the door and let them speak."
Burlison argued that agencies and defense contractors have records they believe remain improperly classified despite recent disclosure efforts by Congress.
"Congress is requesting specific records and videos," Burlison added. "These agencies and contractors know that we know that they exist, and we're going to get them released."
The Republican congressman said his office obtained MQ-9 footage of a UAP incident off the coast of Yemen delivered through what he described as a "Tom Clancy-style dead drop," suggesting witnesses have been forced to use covert methods to share information.
Burlison also emphasized that officials who withhold information from Congress should face consequences. "There must be real penalties for officials who knowingly withhold information from Congress," he said.
What the Numbers Show
The Trump administration's fiscal year 2027 budget includes nearly $132 billion in military and national intelligence spending, much of it contained in classified programs accessible only to a limited group of cleared officials and lawmakers.
Grusch served on the Pentagon's Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force and later as the National Reconnaissance Office's representative to the task force. He first testified publicly about alleged crash retrieval programs before Congress in 2023, when he made similar claims about hidden government activities related to UAPs.
The Pentagon has failed seven consecutive annual audits. Defense officials have said those findings reflect longstanding challenges tracking assets and accounting systems across the department rather than missing funds.
Grusch claimed during Tuesday's event that the government is aware of "several" different alien species, describing what he called a continuum from "corporeal bipedal type life" to "sentient plasma life." He did not provide evidence for these claims or elaborate further.
The Defense Intelligence Agency, which Grusch specifically accused of obstructing congressional oversight, could not immediately be reached for comment. The Pentagon has consistently said investigations have not uncovered verified evidence of extraterrestrial technology.
The Bottom Line
Grusch's allegations represent the latest chapter in ongoing tensions between Congress and intelligence agencies over transparency regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena. His claims about hidden "slush funds" extend beyond UAP-specific programs to broader questions about classified spending oversight.
Bipartisan frustration with agency resistance to congressional information requests appears to be growing, as evidenced by the joint appearance of Democratic and Republican lawmakers at Tuesday's event. Whether that bipartisan consensus translates into legislative action or increased pressure on the executive branch remains to be seen.
The Pentagon has disputed previous claims from Grusch and other whistleblowers about secret crash retrieval programs, saying investigations have not verified evidence of extraterrestrial technology. The new allegations are likely to intensify calls for additional disclosures while also drawing scrutiny given the extraordinary nature of some claims made without supporting documentation.