Mystery, Confusion and Allegations Surround the Downfall of Key UFO Legislation as Glimmer of Hope Emerges
Photo by Chad Stembridge on Unsplash
Written by Christopher Sharp - 1 October 2024
The downfall of the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act (UAPDA) has been surrounded by mystery, confusion, and allegations after the amendment was excluded from the Senate’s Manager’s Package for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (NDAA FY 2025).
When news of its exclusion broke, sources informed Liberation Times that the UAPDA was blocked due to resistance from Senator Rand Paul, the Republican ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
According to one source who spoke to Liberation Times, Senator Paul was prepared to oppose any amendment supported by Senate Leader and Democrat Chuck Schumer - including the UAPDA.
Another source reported that, in August, a staff member from Senator Chris Coons’ office indicated to them in person that Senator Paul was the only senator opposing the UAPDA.
Initially declining to comment on the record via email, a staffer from Senator Rand Paul’s office later informed Liberation Times via phone that the Senator had approved the inclusion of the UAPDA in the Manager’s Package.
In a separate phone transcript obtained by Liberation Times, a staff member from Senator Paul’s office states:
“Senator Paul cleared that amendment, so any delay was not due to his actions.”
Following Senator Paul’s office’s denial of the allegations, Matthew Ford of the UAP Disclosure Fund, blamed Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, writing on X:
‘It was Mitch McConnell who blocked the inclusion of the UAP Disclosure Act in the Manager’s Package for the NDAA.’
Above: Senator Mitch McConnell
Ford told Liberation Times that multiple well-placed sources had provided him with the information.
Daniel Sheehan of the UAP advocacy group, the New Paradigm Institute told Liberation Times last year that Senator McConnell opposed the UAPDA, which was eventually gutted within NDAA FY 2024.
Liberation Times understands that last year Senator McConnell was lobbied by Representative Mike Turner, Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, and Representative Mike Rogers, Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, to oppose key provisions of the UAPDA.
Liberation Times has sought a reaction from Senator McConnell’s office regarding Ford’s allegations that he blocked the UAPDA’s inclusion within the Manager’s Package for the upcoming NDAA. So far, one staffer has refused to provide comment, instead referring journalists to Senator McConnell’s press secretary, Dough Andres - however, despite multiple emails and phone calls, Andres has not responded.
Ultimately, there is no public evidence at this moment which could blame any Senator for the UAPDA’s exclusion, despite months of lobbying from UAP advocacy groups, as the Senate prepares to negotiate the final NDAA with the House of Representatives.
Like last year, no member of Congress is prepared to go on record and take responsibility for resisting the legislation. It all echoes the confusion and conflicting allegations over who is responsible for the UAPDA’s latest setback.
Last year, Representative Turner openly criticised the UAPDA as poorly drafted but denied publicly that he was responsible for holding up the legislation in an interview with Newsnation.
When asked whether he was opposing the UAPDA at the time, Representative Turner said:
“Well, I spoke to Senator Rounds directly, and I’m not holding up his provision at all.”
Above: Representative Mike Turner
Similarly, sources close to Representative Rogers' office claimed to Liberation Times that he did not oppose the UAPDA last year, instead pointing to Turner as the source of resistance.
But there does remain a glimmer of hope for the UAPDA this year, with Senator Mike Rounds informing journalist Matt Laslo, “Let me put it this way, it's not out yet,” and that NDAA “negotiations continue.”
UAP transparency advocate and lawyer, Daniel Sheehan of the New Paradigm Institute, told Liberation Times that Senator Rounds can attempt to “airdrop” a specific section of the UAPDA into NDAA negotiations with the House, which are expected to take place following U.S. elections on 5 November.
Sheehan added that he doesn’t expect the full UAPDA to pass under this scenario, and has no reason to believe resistance from the House has disappeared following its gutting last year.
Sheehan will advocate for Senator Rounds to introduce revised language requiring that the head of each government office provide UAP information to the Archivist of the United States ‘immediately’ after its passage into law, rather than the current wording, which states ‘as soon as practicable.’
Speaking to Liberation Times, The Hill opinion contributor Marik Von Rennenkampff suggested that upcoming public UAP congressional hearings, expected to take place after the elections, could improve the chances of the UAPDA being included in the finalised NDAA FY 2025:
“Despite Sen. Rounds’ intriguing 24 September comment that “negotiations [on the UAP Disclosure Act] continue,” congressional experts have suggested that it is exceedingly unlikely that the Disclosure Act would be “airdropped” into the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act at this stage.
“However, should upcoming Senate or House UAP hearings yield particularly notable testimony, this calculus may change.”
One of the planned hearings will be led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Chairwoman of the Senate’s Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.
As reported by The Hill, Senator Gillibrand, who played a pivotal role in establishing the Pentagon's UAP office—the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)—expressed her desire for “a progress report on how many unidentified aerial phenomena we’ve assessed and analyzed” and for the office to “give examples of what we have identified and give examples of what we haven’t identified.”
Another hearing is expected to come from the House after the elections, led by Representative Nancy Mace, Chairwoman of the House’s Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, IT, and Government Innovation. Speaking to journalist Matt Laslo, Mace remarked, “I need people who’ve maybe seen some sh*t and can tell us some stuff.”
One anticipated witness is retired Rear Admiral and former Acting Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Tim Gallaudet. Referencing the expected House hearing, Gallaudet commented on X:
“Looking forward to contributing to another historic UAP hearing.”
Speaking with Liberation Times earlier this year, Gallaudet stated:
“I want to look in the oceans for UAP and evidence of higher non-human intelligence because I know the area really well. I know all the collection systems out there and the universities and government agencies that do ocean exploration and research.
“I want to pursue the study of UAP in the oceans to add to the overall body of knowledge.
“Why just limit ourselves to looking up when we know if we look below we'll find that evidence too?”
Gallaudet also stated how he maintains contact with highly credible first-hand whistleblowers who assert, through programs they have worked on, that advanced multiple species of non-human intelligence in various crafts have visited and continue to visit Earth.
Gallaudet told Liberation Times:
“I do know from the people I trust, who have had access to some of these programs, that there are different types of non-human intelligence visiting us whose intentions we do not know.”
Speaking about upcoming hearings, investigative journalist, Jeremy Corbell told Liberation Times:
‘I’ve just returned from several productive in-person meetings and briefings in Washington, D.C., engaging directly with numerous members of Congress and key committees involved in the UAP issue.
‘I can confirm that we are firmly on the right track as we move toward the upcoming UAP hearings. All parties are working tirelessly to shape these proceedings for maximum impact, with a clear focus on public knowledge and transparency.
‘Rep. Mace made it crystal clear when she stated, ‘“I need people who’ve maybe seen some sh*t and can tell us some stuff.”
‘And that is precisely what she and other members will receive. I’ve personally facilitated introductions between whistleblowers and members to ensure that.
‘UAP disclosure is a complex dance, but the music has been playing for a long time - and now, people are finally stepping onto the dance-floor.’
In the coming weeks, more details about both hearings are expected to emerge, with anticipated testimony likely to capture the attention of mainstream media.
