U.S. Releases Third Batch of Declassified UFO Files, Show Glowing Orbs but No Answers

On June 12, 2026, the Trump administration finally opened a new window into the world of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) by releasing a third tranche of previously classified records. The files, now accessible through the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE), include videos, memos, sketches, reenactments, and illustrations that document a range of sightings reported by credible witnesses.

The most eye‑catching new material is a set of videos that capture bright red and yellow orbs dancing across the sky. In some clips the orbs seem to split apart and then rejoin, while others show similar glowing objects hovering over the northeastern United States in July 2025. The footage was taken by witnesses the government has identified as trustworthy.

Beyond the videos, the batch contains memos from federal agents describing their own encounters with UAP. Hand‑drawn sketches and artist’s renderings illustrate balloon‑like objects spotted over Colorado Springs and other unspecified western U.S. locations. One of the older items is a 1949 letter from FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, who believed a particular craft was not of human origin.

The release also incorporates the 1952 Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects—a CIA‑led study that concluded flying saucers posed no physical threat to national security. The panel recommended that the government debunk UFO reports to curb public fascination and warned that adversaries could exploit the public’s interest.

No documents in the June 12 batch offer a definitive assessment of whether the sightings involve extraterrestrial life or pose a national‑security risk. Pentagon officials and other agencies have labeled the material as unresolved cases for which the government could not reach a conclusive determination.

This release is part of a broader declassification effort that began in February 2026, when President Trump directed federal agencies to identify and declassify records related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life. The first tranche went public on May 8, 2026, and a second set followed on May 22, 2026. The current batch expands the archive with new videos, older correspondence, and historical panel reports.

The push for disclosure was sparked in part by renewed public interest in UFOs, amplified by former President Barack Obama’s remarks about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Those statements helped create a climate in which the Trump administration felt it could release more information.

The PURSUE portal has become the primary channel for releasing UAP‑related material. Its purpose is to give the public access to reviewed government documents while protecting sensitive information. The latest release continues that mission by adding new evidence to the public record.

While the new files do not answer the most compelling questions about the nature of the sightings, they do provide a more comprehensive view of the government’s long‑standing interest in the phenomenon. Researchers, skeptics, and the general public will likely examine the videos and documents to assess whether the sightings can be explained by natural or man‑made phenomena.

The release underscores that the U.S. government has maintained a record of UAP encounters for decades, but it also highlights the lack of a definitive conclusion about the origins or implications of those encounters.