Details Of A Secret FBI Group Investigating UFOs Have Been Shared Publicly

For years, the idea of a secret government group investigating UFOs has been the stuff of conspiracy theories and science fiction, with 'The X-Files' popularising the notion of hidden agents working in the shadows. But now, it appears that reality may not be too far from fiction. For the first time, details have emerged about an informal FBI working group investigating Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), a modern term for what many still call UFOs.

The existence of this group was publicly disclosed by Ryan Graves, a former US Navy pilot and one of the first whistleblowers to speak out about the military's encounters with unknown aerial objects. Graves made headlines when he testified before a congressional hearing in 2023, raising concerns about the underreporting of UAP sightings and the stigma surrounding such reports. Now, he has shed new light on a covert team within the FBI that has allegedly been tracking these mysterious objects.

According to Graves, this secretive and as-yet nameless group consists of more than a dozen agents spread across the US who dedicate a significant amount of their time to investigating UAP sightings. Speaking in an interview with NewsNation's Markie Martin, he explained, "So these agents have taken upon this responsibility as a part of a 'bottoms-up' approach in order to understand what potential illegalities might be occurring with objects that are operating within our airspace that we're not properly tracking or mitigating. The FBI has both a law enforcement as well as a counterintelligence responsibility, so having objects that are harassing military bases as well as the general public over our national air space squarely fits within their domain of responsibilities."

The group, according to Graves, began its work around 2020 and has since been engaging with organisations like Americans for Safe Aerospace, which Graves founded to provide a reporting platform for pilots who have encountered UAP. "We receive a lot of reports at Americans for Safe Aerospace, some that might have serious national security implications," he said. "With the permission of the pilots or the witnesses, we've referred the pilot to interview with these groups such that these agents can then follow up on the reports, gather additional information, talk to additional witnesses and look for gaps in our national security that they can address for the nation."

Unlike the secretive government UFO programs of the past, such as Project Blue Book, this FBI group has not been formally acknowledged, though Graves insists its work has been highly valuable. He said that while he isn't part of the group in an official capacity, "their investigations have been very fruitful and they've been able to move the ball both in an unclassified and classified regime forward quite a bit."

However, the future of this informal working group may now be in jeopardy. With Donald Trump back in office, reports have emerged that he has issued a questionnaire to FBI agents, prompting concerns about a large-scale purge. Agents across the bureau are reportedly being asked about their involvement in investigating the January 6 Capitol riot, raising fears that those who played a role in that case could be removed from their positions.

Graves told Politico, "I have spoken to several agents from the UAP Working Group who are afraid of losing their role and the investigation getting unintentionally compromised. I am concerned that the FBI's UAP Working Group could be affected by transition changes, and these leaders might not be aware of the incredible work these agents are doing and how their investigation could be empowered as part of a formalised intergovernmental effort."

In response to these revelations, the FBI issued a carefully worded statement, saying, "While we have no comment on any questions regarding FBI personnel matters, the FBI investigates Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena when there is potential for a violation of federal law - particularly unlawful acts that could adversely affect our national interests - and to gather, share, and analyze intelligence to combat security threats facing the US."

Graves warns that if these agents lose their positions, their contribution to tracking and understanding UAP could be lost. Speaking again to NewsNation, he stated, "There are expected to be a number of purges within the FBI and although this isn't a classified effort, it is a quieted effort within the bureau. The fear was that these agents would get wrapped up into this larger removal of agents within the FBI and leave the UAP investigation essentially hung and dry where it is. So my message would be to the administration to recognise the fantastic work that these agents are doing for our national security and ideally to formalise this effort within the agency and resource them so they can continue and expand their efforts."

If true, this is one of the most significant disclosures in recent years regarding the US government's ongoing interest in UAP. While the Pentagon has been more forthcoming about its Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), this marks the first time an FBI-led initiative has been acknowledged, even if informally.

It raises the question of just how much do intelligence agencies know about UAP, and will this working group survive long enough to provide answers?