UFO Whistleblowers: The Inside Story On How Landmark Legislation Has Paved The Way To Uncovering Alleged Retrieval And Reverse Engineering Programs Hidden From Congress For Decades
Written by Christopher Sharp - 26 December 2022
Following weeks of negotiations between Democrats and Republicans, the Fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has now been signed into law by President Joe Biden, marking a key milestone to unlocking the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) mystery.
Language included within the NDAA provides protections to potential whistleblowers involved in secretive programs not reported ‘clearly’ and ‘explicitly’ to relevant Congressional committees relating to alleged retrieval and reverse-engineering of non-human craft.
The legislation also exempts potential whistleblowers, not only from secrecy agreements resulting from Presidential Executive Orders but also from the Atomic Energy Act.
But how did we get here?
It all originates from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which initially drafted whistleblower language as part of its Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA), which was subsequently wrapped within the passed NDAA 2023.
Liberation Times understands from defense and intelligence sources that individuals with knowledge of potentially illegal UAP-related Special Access Programs (SAPs) and Compartmentalized Access Programs (CAPs), approached the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to provide verifiable information about such programs.
This verifiable information triggered the Committee to draft the language.
Investigative Filmmaker and Journalist Jeremy Corbell told Liberation Times that he also has direct knowledge of whistleblowers coming forward, commenting:
“I have direct knowledge that these procedures and protections will be utilized by individuals who want to be on the right side of history and the law. And that in fact - individuals have already come forward within these channels - to reveal what they know about the hidden and illegal UFO exploitation programs.”
Furthermore, the Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Christopher Mellon, has written:
‘Even before this ‘whistleblower’ legislation was signed into law, credible individuals were providing Congress information alleging that the US government has recovered extraterrestrial technology. This process began in 2019 when I brought astrophysicist Dr. Eric Davis to Capitol Hill to meet with staff from the Senate Intelligence and Armed Services committees.’
And if proven, it would mark a watershed moment, as Congress would contemplate the repercussions of a moment akin to the Church Committee of 1975, which led to the very creation of the same Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that helped draft the IAA language.
Back in 1975, U.S. government reforms were prompted by abuses of power from U.S. intelligence agencies, leading to shocking revelations such as Operation MKULTRA, involving the drugging and torture of U.S. citizens.
It may be inevitable that the potential discovery of alleged secretive and illegal UAP programs could lead to similar significant reforms within the U.S. government.
The passing of UAP whistleblower language marks a key moment in Congress’ investigation into the topic.
Jeremy Corbell, speaking to Liberation Times, commented:
“It is important that the historical relevance of this moment is not lost on the American and global public. There has been an emerging tide of UFO transparency since our government's official admission and acknowledgement of extensive and active, modern UFO study programs within our Department of Defense. This was the first honest acknowledgement of its kind since 1969, upon the closing of Project Blue Book.
“The public has pushed for action and UFO transparency since then, and we are now seeing results from those efforts reflected in official legislation. Legislation that has passed at the highest level, and specifies protections and procedures for UFO program whistleblowers to come forward about their participation in UFO reverse engineering and exploitation programs.
“We are talking about official - likely illegal - government programs that have been studying the UFO puzzle substantially, physically and scientifically, in secrecy.”
New Whistleblower Reporting Mechanism
Provisions for potential whistleblowers include the ability to waive non-disclosure agreements by using a secure mechanism through the UAP Office, known as the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO).
The purpose? To share information with Congressional committees and leadership which by law have a right to know.
The only exemption is information relating to SAPs and CAPs which have ‘explicitly’ and ‘clearly’ been reported to the Congressional defense and intelligence committees, including Gang of Eight members.
In other words, the law offers no protections for hidden and illegal programs, which have failed to adhere to reporting procedures.
And what happens if it is found that a SAP or CAP relating to UAP has not clearly and explicitly been reported to the relevant Congressional committees and members?
Then the Secretary of Defense will be notified of this by the AARO and given 72 hours to communicate details to the Congressional leadership and its defense and intelligence committees.
It should be noted that the approved language not only allows government personnel to come forward but also those working for private defense contractors working on rumoured UAP programs. In 2021, former Majority Leader of the United States Senate, Harry Reid, told the New Yorker, “I was told for decades that Lockheed had some of these retrieved materials.”
However, Reid, despite being a high-ranking member, was not allowed to look for such programs, adding:
“And I tried to get, as I recall, a classified approval by the Pentagon to have me go look at the stuff. They would not approve that. I don’t know what all the numbers were, what kind of classification it was, but they would not give that to me.”
Reprisals Prohibition
The NDAA also includes an expansive anti-reprisal clause for those fearing possible consequences for disclosing secretive information.
Like the broader whistleblower language and allegations regarding UAP retrieval and reverse-engineering programs, reprisal language did not come from a vacuum and has been informed by ongoing situations.
The finalised legislation prohibits reprisals against whistleblowers, and states:
‘An employee of a department or agency of the Federal Government, or of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, subgrantee, or personal services contractor of such a department or agency, who has authority to take, direct others to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action, shall not, with respect to such authority, take or fail to take or threaten to take or fail to take, a personnel action, including the revocation or suspension of security clearances, or termination of employment with respect to any individual as a reprisal for any authorized disclosure.'
Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin and Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, will be responsible for establishing procedures to enforce this provision.
This equates to more accountability, as both Austin and Haines serve within the President’s Cabinet, unlike Moultrie. Although there may still be questions regarding how both the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and Department of Defense (DoD) will take special consideration of UAP whistleblowers and enforce protections and grievance processes beyond existing laws.
Despite doubts, Jeremy Corbell has exclusively told Liberation Times that the process had already started, commenting:
“I have direct knowledge that this process has already started. Reprisals are being taken seriously and multiple individuals have recently come forward on record about UFO exploitation programs and physical hardware.
“I’m also aware of specific UFO related holding locations – as was Harry Reid – and I know those have been conveyed too.”
The legislation compels the DoD and the intelligence community to fully cooperate and support the activities of the AARO.
Under the new law, liaison personnel from other parts of the U.S. government can now be co-located within the AARO office. Such personnel can share any Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) related to UAP and can help with scientific and technical analysis and even capabilities to respond to incidents.
Liberation Times understands that public hearings are still on the table and that Congressional intelligence and defense committees are heavily engaged behind the scenes untangling decades-old retrieval and reverse-engineering programs.
Further information is still being sought and ultimately Congressional leadership will be left with the decision of what the public has a right to know.
Remarking on the repercussions, Jeremy Corbell stated:
“What was signed into law opens a door. It's an invitation towards UFO transparency. It specifically addresses the UFO presence and physical reality - functionally - by encouraging those who have or are participating in UFO exploitation programs (or any Special Access Program related to the UFO puzzle)... to come forward; as a new legal action under official whistleblower protections.
“We are living in a new world of human understanding - one that includes the UFO reality. This is a historic moment and a monumental step towards UFO transparency and more importantly... human discovery.”