GOP Lawmaker on Feds, UFOs: ‘Give us the information. Let’s decide’

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tennessee) is calling on federal government leaders to declassify all documents related to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), arguing that federal agencies must be transparent if they intend to fund millions of dollars.

Burchett, a member of the House Oversight Committee, introduced the UAP Transparency Act last week. The bill would require the U.S. president to direct all federal agencies and departments to make all documents on UAPs available to the public within 270 days. It would also require the president to provide a quarterly report to the House on the progress agencies are making to declassify these records.

“The many departments of our federal government tell us that they [UAPs] It doesn’t exist, but tens of millions of dollars are still being funded,” Burchett said Monday in Nation News “The Hill at NewsNation.” “And our own Pentagon, which has literally not passed an audit in the history of audits, cannot account for more than half a billion dollars.”

The Pentagon failed its annual audit for the sixth consecutive year last year after auditors discovered that half of its assets could not be accounted for.

“Now we’re spending this money on something, we’re 35 billion dollars in debt… every hundred days we add another billion dollars to our deficit,” Burchett added. “Look, it’s not about little green men or flying saucers, it’s what are we spending this damn money on? It’s ridiculous.”

The Tennessee Republican pointed to reports from “qualified individuals” and anecdotes he heard from former admirals about possible UFO sightings, arguing that the public can draw their own conclusions about the information if it is declassified.

“Just tell us what it is. We don’t care,” he said, later adding, “All you’re going to say is that this universe is much bigger than we give it credit for. We’re a grain of sand on a million beaches. Give it to us.” us the information.

Burchett has been a strong advocate for increased transparency around UAPs since a House hearing in July, when three former Defense Department officials testified about their experience with the phenomenon, warning that the sightings could pose national security risks.

A bipartisan coalition including Burchett, Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida), Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida) and Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) – a group calling itself the UAP Caucus – promised to increase transparency on the topic.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns the hill.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story