The Congressional UAP Caucus is a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers dedicated to advancing legislative oversight, transparency, and investigation of unidentified aerial phenomena. Formed in the House of Representatives in 2022 and growing substantially following the landmark July 2023 UAP hearing, the Caucus has become the primary legislative engine driving mandatory UAP reporting requirements, whistleblower protections, and declassification mandates within the annual National Defense Authorization Acts.
Origins & Formation
Congressional interest in UAP predates the formal Caucus by several years. Senator Harry Reid’s 2007 earmark funding the AATIP program was the earliest significant congressional action, though it was conducted in secret. The December 2017 New York Times disclosure of AATIP and the Pentagon UAP videos triggered the first open legislative response: provisions in the FY2021 NDAA mandating the creation of the UAP Task Force and a 180-day reporting requirement that produced the landmark June 2021 ODNI Preliminary Assessment.
The formal Congressional UAP Caucus was established in the House in 2022, gaining momentum rapidly after the July 26, 2023 hearing before the House Oversight Subcommittee on National Security — the most widely watched congressional UAP event in history. The hearing, organized principally by Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN), featured testimony from three witnesses under oath: David Grusch, Ryan Graves, and David Fravor.
Key Members
Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN) — The Caucus’s most visible House champion. Burchett organized the July 2023 hearing, has repeatedly called for full declassification of UAP records, and has publicly stated his belief that the government is withholding information about non-human craft.
Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) — Co-organized the 2023 hearing and has been a persistent advocate for UAP transparency legislation within the House Oversight Committee, focusing particularly on whistleblower protection and congressional access rights.
Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) — The most active Democratic member of the Caucus. His bipartisan work with Republican colleagues has been essential to sustaining the Caucus’s credibility and legislative reach.
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — Senate Majority Leader who introduced the UAP Disclosure Act of 2023 with Republican co-sponsor Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), modeled on the JFK Records Act. While significantly weakened before passage, Schumer’s involvement signaled the issue had reached the highest levels of Senate leadership.
Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) — Co-sponsor of the UAP Disclosure Act and chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity. Rounds has been the Senate’s most consistent Republican UAP advocate.
Key Legislative Accomplishments
FY2021 NDAA (December 2020) — Required the DoD and ODNI to produce a joint UAP report within 180 days, producing the June 2021 Preliminary Assessment.
FY2022 NDAA (December 2021) — Established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), replacing the UAP Task Force with a broader all-domain mandate.
FY2023 NDAA (December 2022) — Required AARO to establish a secure reporting mechanism for government employees and contractors, strengthening whistleblower protections.
FY2024 NDAA (December 2023) — Included a weakened version of the Schumer-Rounds UAP Disclosure Act, retaining language requiring executive branch review of UAP-related records.
The July 2023 Hearing
The July 26, 2023 hearing before the House Oversight Subcommittee was the Caucus’s most significant public action to date. Organized by Burchett and Luna, it brought together David Grusch (who alleged classified crash-retrieval programs), Ryan Graves (who documented sustained UAP encounters during active service), and David Fravor (who described the 2004 Tic Tac encounter) for sworn testimony on the public record.
The hearing produced concrete follow-up: multiple classified briefings for Caucus members, accelerated engagement with AARO on congressional access, and the introduction of additional UAP legislation in both chambers. It effectively ended the era in which UAP could be politically dismissed as a fringe concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Congressional UAP Caucus?
The Congressional UAP Caucus is a bipartisan group of U.S. House and Senate members dedicated to advancing legislative oversight, transparency, and investigation of unidentified aerial phenomena. It has been the primary driver of UAP provisions in annual National Defense Authorization Acts since 2020.
Who are the key members of the UAP Caucus?
Key members include Representatives Tim Burchett (R-TN), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) in the House, and Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) in the Senate.
What legislation has the UAP Caucus passed?
Caucus-driven provisions include the FY2021 NDAA mandate requiring the landmark 2021 ODNI report; the FY2022 NDAA establishing AARO; the FY2023 NDAA strengthening UAP whistleblower protections; and the FY2024 NDAA including a weakened version of the Schumer-Rounds UAP Disclosure Act.
What happened at the July 2023 UAP hearing?
The July 26, 2023 hearing featured sworn testimony from David Grusch (who alleged classified crash-retrieval programs), Ryan Graves (who documented sustained UAP encounters during active service), and David Fravor (who described the 2004 Tic Tac encounter). It was the most-watched congressional UAP event in history.
What was the UAP Disclosure Act?
The UAP Disclosure Act of 2023, introduced by Senators Schumer and Rounds, was modeled on the JFK Records Act. It would have created an independent review board to declassify UAP records held by government contractors and agencies. The provision was significantly weakened before passage in the FY2024 NDAA.
Is the Congressional UAP Caucus bipartisan?
Yes. The Caucus is explicitly bipartisan, with both Republican and Democratic members in the House and Senate. The July 2023 hearing was co-organized by Republican Tim Burchett and actively supported by Democrat Jared Moskowitz. Bipartisan framing has been essential to the Caucus’s credibility and legislative effectiveness.