The Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act — commonly called the UAP Disclosure Act — is the most significant piece of UAP legislation introduced in U.S. history. Modeled after the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act, it would require all federal agencies to identify, collect, and publicly release records related to UAPs, including any recovered materials or craft. Download the full official text below.
📄 Official Legislative Text — UAP Disclosure Act of 2023
Introduced by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-IL) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) as an amendment to the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act. Source: United States Senate.
What Is the UAP Disclosure Act?
The UAP Disclosure Act is a bipartisan piece of legislation that would create a government-wide review board — the UAP Records Review Board — with the authority to declassify and release all federal records relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena. It would apply to every executive agency, military branch, intelligence community component, and contractor holding UAP-related information.
The bill was explicitly modeled after the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 — which successfully released millions of classified government documents over a multi-year process. Sponsors Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Mike Rounds argued the same framework could work for UAP records.
Legislative History
2023: The Schumer-Rounds Amendment
In July 2023, Senators Schumer and Rounds introduced the UAP Disclosure Act as Senate Amendment 797 to S.2226 (the FY2024 NDAA). The amendment passed the Senate 84–0 as part of the NDAA in July 2023 — a historic, bipartisan vote signaling broad legislative support for UAP transparency. The Senate version included sweeping eminent domain powers that would have allowed the government to seize privately-held UAP materials.
However, the eminent domain provision and several other key powers were stripped during conference negotiations with the House. The final FY2024 NDAA (Public Law 118-31, Sections 1841–1843) retained a scaled-back version that directed NARA to establish a UAP Records Collection and set agency review deadlines — but without the enforcement mechanisms of the original bill.
2024: Reintroduction
In 2024, Schumer and Rounds reintroduced the UAP Disclosure Act as Senate Amendment 2610 to S.4638, the FY2025 NDAA. The reintroduced version — officially titled the UAP Disclosure Act of 2024 — restored the UAP Records Review Board, set stronger declassification timelines, and authorized $20 million for FY2025 implementation. It again faced resistance from the House during conference and was not enacted in its full form.
Key Provisions
The UAP Disclosure Act’s core provisions include the following:
- UAP Records Review Board — An independent review board with authority to declassify records and compel agency compliance, modeled on the Assassination Records Review Board.
- Mandatory Agency Review — All executive agencies, military branches, and intelligence community components required to identify, organize, and transmit UAP records to a central collection within 300 days.
- Presumption of Disclosure — Records must be disclosed unless the President certifies specific harm from release; the default is release, not secrecy.
- Coverage of Non-Human Intelligence — Explicitly covers records related to “non-human intelligence” — a term that had never before appeared in U.S. statute.
- Private Sector Materials — The original 2023 version included eminent domain authority to acquire privately-held UAP materials; this was removed in conference negotiations.
- 25-Year Limit — Any records withheld beyond 25 years must be subject to renewed presidential certification and public justification.
- Authorization — $20 million authorized for FY2025 implementation.
Current Status
As of 2026, the UAP Disclosure Act has not passed in its full form. The FY2024 NDAA (Public Law 118-31) enacted Sections 1841–1843, which established the UAP Records Collection at NARA and set agency review deadlines. The National Archives’ guidance on the UAP Records Collection is available at archives.gov.
Under the PURSUE program — the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters — the first tranche of declassified UAP records was released at war.gov/UFO in May 2026. The full scope of what remains classified under ongoing UAP Special Access Programs is the subject of continuing congressional pressure, including testimony from whistleblowers like David Grusch.
Related Documents
For further reading, see our full UAP Primary Source Documents index, including government reports, congressional testimony transcripts, and the PURSUE declassification releases. The AARO page covers the executive agency most directly affected by disclosure mandates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UAP Disclosure Act?
Bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Schumer and Rounds that would create a UAP Records Review Board to declassify and release all federal UAP records, modeled after the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act.
Did the UAP Disclosure Act pass?
Not in full. A scaled-back version was enacted as Sections 1841–1843 of the FY2024 NDAA. The UAP Records Collection at NARA was established, but the Review Board and eminent domain authority were removed in conference.
Who sponsored the UAP Disclosure Act?
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-IL) and Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), with cosponsors Rubio, Gillibrand, Young, and Heinrich.
Where can I download the UAP Disclosure Act PDF?
The official text is available as a PDF from the United States Senate at democrats.senate.gov, and on Congress.gov.
What does ‘non-human intelligence’ mean in the UAP Disclosure Act?
The Act was the first U.S. legislation to use the term “non-human intelligence” in statutory text — requiring disclosure of all records relating to non-human intelligence regardless of its origin.
What was the eminent domain provision?
The original 2023 version would have allowed the government to compel transfer of privately-held UAP materials (recovered craft or technology). This was stripped during House-Senate conference before the FY2024 NDAA was signed.
What is the UAP Records Collection?
A repository established at NARA under the FY2024 NDAA. Agencies were required to transmit UAP records by October 2024. The PURSUE program has begun releasing portions publicly at war.gov/UFO.
Explore the full history of UAP disclosure on our UAP Disclosure Timeline — covering every landmark event from 1969 to 2026.