Congress Demands Military Disclose UAP Intercepts Over North America in New Defense Bill

Congress inserted three provisions into the fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act requiring the Department of Defense to detail military encounters with unidentified anomalies over North American airspace, according to reporting by DefenseScoop. The mandate targets the Pentagon's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office, the unit responsible for tracking such incidents.

What Happened

The provisions were included as Congress pushed back against the Pentagon's limited public disclosures about encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). The DOD established the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office to centralize reporting and analysis of incidents that defy conventional explanation across military sensors and platforms.

The specific requirements of the three provisions were not detailed in DefenseScoop's reporting. However, the timing suggests Congress views the Pentagon's current transparency levels as insufficient. The move represents continued congressional pressure on defense officials to explain sightings that military pilots and sensor operators have documented but the department has largely kept classified or withheld from public scrutiny.

The inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act—must-pass legislation that sets defense policy and spending—signals bipartisan concern about the issue. The NDAA is one of the few bills guaranteed consideration on the House and Senate floors, making it an effective vehicle for forcing agency compliance.

Key Facts

  • The All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office is the DOD's designated unit for cataloging and analyzing UAP incidents
  • Three separate congressional provisions targeting the office were inserted into the fiscal 2025 NDAA
  • The provisions mandate increased disclosure regarding UAP intercepts in North American airspace
  • Congress directed these requirements at the Department of Defense
  • DefenseScoop reported the inclusion on December 10, 2025

What's Still Unclear

DefenseScoop's report does not specify what information Congress is demanding the military provide, when disclosure must occur, or what penalties the Pentagon faces for non-compliance. The outlet did not detail whether the three provisions differ in scope or if they overlap.

The DOD has not publicly responded to the new requirements. No official statement from the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office or Pentagon spokesperson was included in the available reporting. It remains unknown whether the office currently possesses the data Congress is requesting or whether compliance will require collecting new information.

The report does not indicate whether military officials challenged these provisions during the NDAA drafting process or whether the Pentagon voluntarily agreed to the disclosure terms.

References

  • DefenseScoop: https://defensescoop.com/2025/12/10/uap-ufo-military-intercepts-north-america-fy-2026-ndaa/