UAP Disclosure Glossary: Key Terms You Need To Know

The ongoing Congressional hearings on UFOs have brought a wave of whistleblower testimonies, revealing alleged secret government programs, efforts to retrieval advanced crafter, and the existence of non-human intelligence on Earth. These discussions are often filled with military and intelligence jargon, making it difficult for the public to fully grasp the implications of what is being disclosed.

Here at Higgypop HQ, we like to make things simple. So, we're put together this glossary that breaks down the key terms used by whistleblowers, military officials, and lawmakers in recent hearings.

AATIP was a U.S. government program established in 2007 to secretly study UAP sightings and potential threats posed by unknown or advanced aerospace technology. Although it was officially dissolved in 2012, some claim its work continued under different classified programs.

Luis Elizondo, a former intelligence officer, was one of AATIP's key figures and has since become a whistleblower advocating for greater UAP transparency. He has stated that during his time with AATIP, the program identified UAPs exhibiting advanced capabilities, such as hypersonic speeds, instantaneous acceleration, and exotic propulsion systems beyond the limits of known human technology.

A US government agency established on 20 July 2022 to investigate UAP sightings, particularly those reported by military personnel. AARO was created in response to growing concerns over national security risks posed by unidentified aerial objects and to improve transparency and data collection on UAP encounters.

AARO has played a central role in Congressional hearings, often providing official explanations for UAP cases. However, some whistleblowers and lawmakers have criticised the agency for lacking access to alleged secret UAP programs hidden within Special Access Programs (SAPs).

A term used in whistleblower testimony to describe alleged recovered non-human bodies or biological material linked to UAP incidents.

In the 2023 Congressional hearing, David Grusch testified that the U.S. government possesses "intact and partially intact" non-human craft and claimed that "non-human biologics" had been recovered from crash sites. While he did not provide physical evidence, his allegations have intensified speculation about UAP crash retrieval programs and whether the government is concealing evidence of non-human intelligence (NHI).

A US government office responsible for reviewing documents before they are published to ensure classified or sensitive information isn't released to the public. This process is often required for former military or intelligence officials before they can share details about their work.

Former Pentagon official Luis Elizondo, who led the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), has spoken about needing DOPSR approval to share his story in his upcoming book. More recently, Jake Barber, who claims to have worked on a secret military UAP crash retrieval programme, required a DOPSR review before speaking to journalist Ross Coulthart on NewsNation.

The release of UAP-related information by the government, military, or whistleblowers, whether intentional or forced. In recent Congressional hearings, lawmakers have pushed for greater disclosure regarding government spending on UAP research, the existence of classified programs, and whether key information is being withheld from Congress and the public.

Legal changes, such as whistleblower protections, have been introduced to encourage insiders to come forward with information on secret UAP programs. While some believe the government is gradually revealing what it knows, others argue that true disclosure has yet to happen, and much of the UAP issue remains hidden behind classified programs and Special Access Projects (SAPs).

An alleged Pentagon programme claimed to be a highly classified Unacknowledged Special Access Program (USAP) focused on UAP research. First brought to public attention by journalist Michael Shellenberger in a Congressional hearing, the programme is said to act as a "parent" intelligence programme, overseeing multiple smaller Special Access Programs (SAPs) related to UAPs, Non-Human Intelligence (NHI), and reverse-engineered technologies. According to Shellenberger's sources, Immaculate Constellation "quarantines" UAP data, controlling access to imagery and technical intelligence within the U.S. military and intelligence community. The Pentagon has denied its existence.

A term used to describe any intelligent entity that is not human. In the context of UAP discussions, it often refers to potential extraterrestrial, extradimensional, or otherwise unknown beings that may be responsible for some UAP encounters.

The term has played a major role in recent Congressional hearings, particularly in the testimony of David Grusch, a former intelligence official who claimed that the U.S. government has recovered UAP craft of "non-human" origin and possesses "biologics" related to these entities. Grusch and other whistleblowers have suggested that intelligence agencies may be concealing evidence of NHI, leading to growing calls for greater transparency on the subject.

A term used in UFO discussions to refer to psychic or mind-based abilities, such as telepathy or telekinesis. In recent NewsNation interviews, whistleblower Jake Barber claimed that psionics refers to individuals with heightened psychic abilities, allegedly used in secret U.S. programmes to summon, communicate with, or influence UAP. He described missions where psionic teams mentally "invited" UAP to land, suggesting some retrievals were deliberate rather than accidental crashes. Barber's claims echo past government research into psychic phenomena, such as Project Stargate, but go further by implying active interaction with UAP through meditation-like techniques.

A secure room or building where classified government discussions and briefings take place, designed to prevent spying, eavesdropping, or unauthorised access to sensitive information. SCIFs are used by military, intelligence, and government officials when discussing top-secret material.

The term has come up frequently in Congressional hearings on UAPs, with former Pentagon official Luis Elizondo among those who have referenced the use of SCIFs for classified briefings on UAP-related matters. Members of Congress have also pushed for whistleblowers to be allowed to testify about UAP programs in a SCIF to protect national security while ensuring transparency.

A term used in official reports to describe technology that does not appear to have been developed by any known human organisation. TUO can include "exotic propulsion" systems, advanced flight capabilities, or materials with unknown properties.

Most recently, Michael Shellenberger referenced TUO in his Congressional testimony, suggesting that classified U.S. military programs have been studying and possibly reverse-engineering such technologies. TUO is often linked to UAP sightings and theories regarding non-human intelligence (NHI) involvement.

Highly classified government projects that only a small number of officials and military personnel are aware of. Special Access Programs (SAPs) are already highly restricted, but a USAP is even more secretive, meaning its very existence is not officially acknowledged, even to most members of Congress. 

Journalist Michael Shellenberger recently testified in a Congressional hearing that whistleblowers have identified an alleged USAP called "Immaculate Constellation," which is said to be a strategic intelligence programme within the U.S. military overseeing various aspects of the UAP issue. Other whistleblowers, including David Grusch, have also claimed that secret US programmes are engaged in UAP retrieval and reverse engineering, hidden within the SAP structure to prevent oversight.

If you're on this page, you probably already know what UAP means, but it's worth noting that this term is now preferred in official reports, Congressional hearings, and military documentation, replacing "UFO" in government discourse. "Anomalous" is included to cover objects seen in the air, in space, and underwater – although underwater ones are also known as Unidentified Submerged Objects (USOs).

A drone or remotely controlled aircraft, often mistaken for UAPs. UAVs can range from small commercial drones to advanced military aircraft used for surveillance and reconnaissance.

In Congressional hearings and AARO reports, UAVs have frequently been cited as a common explanation for UAP sightings. Many cases initially classified as UAPs have later been identified as drones, either from foreign militaries, intelligence operations, or even hobbyist and commercial sources. Officials have emphasised that the increasing use of UAVs, particularly near military installations, has contributed to a significant number of modern UAP reports.