A loophole in U.S. government regulations may be allowing them and their private contractors to withhold evidence of unidentified craft flying in outer space, according to former Capitol Hill policy advisor and attorney Dillon Guthrie. In an article published in the Harvard National Security Journal in January, Guthrie explains that the term “unidentified flying objects” (UFOs) has been redefined as “unidentified aerial phenomena” (UAP) and then “unidentified anomalous phenomena.” This change has made it harder for defense and intelligence agencies to avoid reporting requirements set by Congress.
The current definition of UAP excludes spaceborne-only objects, meaning that data on unidentified objects in space could be legally withheld from Congress. Recent reports from the Defense Department’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) revealed that a significant number of UAP sightings occurred in outer space, but no space-based sensors captured this data. This lack of information sharing has raised concerns among experts like Chris Mellon, a former Pentagon official.
Mellon believes that the U.S. government’s space surveillance systems could provide crucial data on UAP, but the information may not be shared with relevant authorities. Guthrie also highlights the need for a centralized approach to overseeing UAP investigations, as multiple agencies are currently involved without clear leadership or accountability.
Overall, the issue of unidentified aerial phenomena remains a complex and challenging problem, with potential implications for national security and scientific discovery. Efforts to address this issue and improve transparency in reporting UAP sightings are ongoing, but more oversight and coordination are needed to ensure all relevant data is properly analyzed and shared.