The "Age of Disclosure" and its Bold Claims

The conversation around Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs), formerly known as UFOs, has reached a fever pitch, largely fueled by a new documentary titled "The Age of Disclosure." Released theatrically and on Prime Video around November 21, 2025, the film by director Dan Farah posits an "80-year global cover-up of non-human intelligent life" and suggests a covert international effort to reverse-engineer advanced technology of non-human origin.

The documentary features interviews with over 30 individuals who currently serve or have served in high levels of U.S. government, military, and intelligence agencies. Notable figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are among those who offer their perspectives, contributing to the film's assertion that even sitting presidents may have been kept in the dark about these profound secrets. Farah, the film's director, expressed his belief that the documentary's release could precipitate a sitting president publicly acknowledging that "we're not alone in the universe". While praised for its provocative claims and high-level interviews, critics have noted the film's lack of new physical evidence and the absence of dissenting voices, which has led some scientists to reject its premise as a conspiracy theory.

A New Era of Transparency: Congressional Push for UAP Disclosure

Beyond cinematic ventures, a significant shift toward UAP transparency is evident within the U.S. Congress. Lawmakers have demonstrated an increasing interest in compelling intelligence agencies to share what they know about UAPs. This bipartisan push culminated in the proposed "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Disclosure Act of 2023," spearheaded by Senators Chuck Schumer and Mike Rounds.

Modeled after the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act, the proposed legislation aimed to mandate that government records related to UAPs carry a presumption of immediate disclosure. Furthermore, it sought to establish an independent review board and grant the federal government eminent domain over any "technologies of unknown origin (TUO)" and "biological evidence of non-human intelligence (NHI)" that might be held by private entities. Although key provisions of the UAP Disclosure Act were ultimately stripped from the annual defense spending bill due to disagreements over the independence of the review board, the legislative efforts nonetheless resulted in the establishment of a centralized repository for UAP records, signaling an undeniable move towards greater openness.

Whistleblower Accounts: David Grusch's Explosive Testimony

A pivotal moment in the disclosure movement arrived with the testimony of David Grusch, a decorated former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer. In June and July 2023, Grusch made extraordinary claims, alleging under oath that the U.S. government has operated a highly secretive, multi-decade program involved in the retrieval and reverse-engineering of "non-human" spacecraft. He further asserted that the government possesses "non-human 'biologics'" from these crash sites and that individuals have been harmed to maintain the secrecy of these programs.

Grusch testified before Congress, stating he was informed of these programs during his official duties but was denied direct access to them. While his claims have garnered immense public and congressional attention, he has not presented direct physical evidence to support them. Both NASA and the Department of Defense have publicly denied Grusch's claims, stating there are no such programs and that extraterrestrial life has yet to be discovered. Despite the lack of verifiable evidence presented by Grusch, his high-profile testimony has undoubtedly added fuel to the calls for greater transparency and has been a significant factor in the ongoing public discourse surrounding UAPs.

Official Investigations: AARO's Stance on UAPs

In response to growing interest and reports, the Department of Defense established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in 2022. AARO serves as the primary government agency tasked with documenting, analyzing, and resolving UAP reports, utilizing a rigorous scientific and data-driven approach.

AARO's reports, however, have largely pushed back against claims of extraterrestrial involvement. In March 2024, AARO released a report stating it found "no empirical evidence" of alien technology or any U.S. government cover-up since 1945. More recently, a November 2024 report reviewed 757 new UAP instances between May 2023 and June 2024. While 21 of these cases exhibited "peculiar traits" requiring further investigation, AARO reiterated that it found "no evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity, or technology". The office has consistently resolved the majority of reported UAP incidents as mundane objects such as balloons, birds, or drones. These official statements often stand in stark contrast to the narratives presented by whistleblowers and documentaries, creating a complex and often contradictory landscape of information for the public to navigate.

The Geopolitical Stakes of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena

Beyond the question of alien existence, the discussion around UAPs has significant national security implications. Senior U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Marco Rubio, have warned that the assumption that presidents are fully briefed on UFO matters is naive, and that secrecy around unidentified objects, whether extraterrestrial or adversarial technology, poses substantial risks. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has stressed that unidentified objects could originate from hostile nations like China or Russia, highlighting a potential geopolitical arms race to understand and reverse-engineer advanced technologies.

The film "The Age of Disclosure" also touches upon this, suggesting that a "secret war among major nations to reverse-engineer advanced technology of non-human origin" has been ongoing. The argument is that the first country to "crack the code" on such technology would gain a significant global advantage, akin to the Manhattan Project. This strategic imperative provides a compelling, albeit less sensational, reason for governments to maintain secrecy, even if the origin of these phenomena is not extraterrestrial.

Is Full Disclosure Inevitable?

The convergence of factors—increased congressional scrutiny, compelling whistleblower testimonies, and public interest spurred by documentaries—suggests that the world is indeed at a tipping point for UFO disclosure. While official government bodies like AARO continue to deny evidence of extraterrestrial life or technology, the sheer volume of UAP reports and the bipartisan legislative efforts indicate a growing demand for answers.

The director of "The Age of Disclosure," Dan Farah, is optimistic, believing that a sitting president will soon confirm humanity is not alone. The scientific community, too, is increasingly open to the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence, with some experts noting that contact "will perhaps occur in the lifetime of many of us". However, the path to full disclosure is fraught with complexities, including potential national security concerns, the challenge of verifying extraordinary claims, and the public's capacity to process such paradigm-shifting information. While the exact timeline remains uncertain, the momentum building around UAP transparency suggests that humanity may indeed receive significant answers about non-human intelligence in this lifetime.