Congressman Demands UAP Disclosure, Whistleblower Protection for Aviation Safety

Republican Congressman Eric Burlison (MO-07) is actively pushing for legislation that mandates greater UAP disclosure and strengthens whistleblower protection.

His efforts center on two key legislative items. These include the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Disclosure Act of 2025. He also supports robust protections for witnesses who come forward.

Congressional Push for Transparency

Congressman Burlison recently spoke at a conference. The event marked the 30th anniversary of an alleged 1996 UAP encounter in Varginha, Brazil. He stressed that Congress has been given "marching orders" to act.

Burlison is a proponent of passing the UAP Disclosure Act. This act aims to increase transparency on government records related to UAP. He also urged the passage of UAP whistleblower protection measures.

These protections are vital for military and civilian personnel. They must be able to report UAP sightings without fear of professional reprisal. The congressman has submitted the UAP Disclosure Act of 2025 as an amendment. This was part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026.

He has previously expressed disappointment. Key disclosure language was stripped from earlier defense bills.

Impact on Commercial Aviation Safety

The push for UAP transparency has direct implications for commercial aviation safety. Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena pose a potential risk to the national airspace.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has already taken steps. The agency quietly updated its air traffic control procedures. This new policy replaces the older "UFO" terminology with "UAP".

Air traffic controllers now report UAP observations through existing safety channels. This change signals that UAP sightings are now recognized as a legitimate part of everyday aviation safety operations.

• The FAA's shift helps reduce the stigma around reporting.
• It encourages pilots and controllers to document sightings.
• This turns observations into actionable data for analysis.

Proposed Legislative Safeguards

Further legislation seeks to expand on the FAA's updated policy. The proposed Safe Airspace for Americans Act aims to create a national, standardized system. This system would collect and analyze UAP reports from all aviation professionals. This includes pilots, air traffic controllers, and airport staff.

This proposed bill is designed to protect aviation professionals. It ensures that reporting a UAP cannot jeopardize a pilot’s medical or airman certificates. It is intended to make UAP reporting safe, consistent, and transparent across the entire aviation industry.

Aviation stakeholders view this as critical. Better reporting provides more data to understand potential airspace threats. This information is crucial for maintaining the security of global air travel. The goal is to move the discussion from speculation to data-driven safety management. The increased transparency is seen as a way to restore public trust in government.

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