Pete Hegseth

Pete Hegseth has been US Secretary of War (Department of Defense) under President Donald Trump since January 2025. He is the lead official responsible for the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE) and the publication of all UAP files on war.gov/ufo. Hegseth ordered the declassification of Release 01 (May 8, 2026) and Release 02 (May 22, 2026) and announced Release 03. Background: Fox News host, Army National Guard veteran (Iraq, Afghanistan), Princeton graduate. Statement on Release 02: 'The Department of War is in lockstep with President Trump to bring unprecedented transparency regarding our government's understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it's time the American people see it for themselves.'