‘A Skull and Bones-type vibe’: Spy agencies grapple with how much to share at UFO hearing

This article, published by Politico on May 16, 2022, details the internal tensions within the United States national security bureaucracy regarding the upcoming first public congressional hearing on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) in fifty years. The report highlights a significant divide between the Pentagon and intelligence agencies concerning the level of transparency required by Congress. While the National Defense Authorization Act mandated the creation of a permanent UAP research office—resulting in the establishment of the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group—current and former officials suggest that the Pentagon has been slow to implement these requirements. Critics, including former Pentagon intelligence official Christopher Mellon and biochemist Colm Kelleher, express concern that the effort is being treated as a minor administrative task rather than a serious investigation into advanced aircraft of unknown origin. The article notes that some factions within the intelligence community are described as protective of UAP-related data, maintaining a 'Skull and Bones-type vibe' that lacks accountability. Furthermore, the piece discusses the role of the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies and the Galileo Project, both of which advocate for greater transparency and the application of scientific rigor to UAP data. The article concludes by noting that while the hearing is viewed as a potential historic step, there are concerns that it may ultimately prove to be more theatrical than substantive.