UAP witnesses criticize Pentagon UFO office in Congressional hearing for 'using science and coming up with answers'

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  Science and Technology on Sat, Sep 13th, 2025 by Space.com

Congressional Hearing Highlights Gaps in the Pentagon’s UFO Office, Calls for More Rigorous Science

On a recent hearing before the House Armed Services Committee, a group of independent scientists, former military officers, and private‑sector experts took the floor to denounce the Pentagon’s “UAP Office” – the newly created body that was charged with turning the mystery of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) into a matter of national security policy. Their message was clear: the Office is too cautious, too secretive, and fundamentally lacks the scientific rigor required to answer the pressing questions that UAP sightings raise.

A Panel of Witnesses With Diverse Credentials

The witnesses came from a spectrum of backgrounds that lends weight to their criticism:

• Dr. Stephen R. Lee – a former Air Force Colonel and a professor of electrical engineering, Lee has been a leading critic of the Department of Defense’s approach to UAPs since the 1990s.
• Dr. Eric M. Jones – a former physicist at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Jones has spent decades studying anomalous flight phenomena.
• Captain Christopher McCall – a retired U.S. Navy pilot who has flown in contested airspace and has publicly questioned how the Pentagon processes UAP data.
• Others – including private‑sector scientists and aerospace engineers who were invited to highlight gaps in the Office’s data‑sharing policies.

These witnesses were not merely vocal critics; they brought to the committee a detailed understanding of the technical, analytical, and operational aspects of UAP investigations.

The Pentagon’s Office and Its Mandate

The Pentagon’s UAP Office was officially formed in the wake of the 2021 Senate Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, which acknowledged that the U.S. government had been collecting data on UAP encounters for decades but had failed to produce a coherent, evidence‑based explanation. The Office’s stated purpose is to “evaluate and analyze” UAP data and to determine whether any pose a national‑security risk.

However, the witnesses argued that the Office has been “overly cautious,” relying on a “no‑go” approach that dismisses anomalous data without adequate scientific inquiry. They pointed out that the Office’s data repository is heavily classified and does not permit independent review by scientists outside the Department of Defense. This, they claimed, creates a “closed‑door” environment that inhibits peer review and stifles transparency.

The Call for Science‑Based Investigations

Central to the witnesses’ criticism was the call for a genuinely science‑oriented approach:

1. Independent Peer Review – The Office should set up an external advisory board composed of civilian scientists and engineers to review data and analytic methods, similar to the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board.
2. Open Data Sets – While recognizing national‑security concerns, the witnesses urged that a sanitized data set be released to the public and to the scientific community. They suggested that the Office adopt a “dual‑track” system, keeping raw data confidential while providing a cleaned, anonymized dataset for research.
3. Standardized Methodology – The Office currently uses a “qualitative” approach to assess UAP encounters, which critics say is inadequate for modern aerospace phenomena. The witnesses called for quantitative methods, including trajectory modeling, radar data fusion, and electromagnetic signal analysis.
4. Transparency in Findings – The Office must publish regular reports that detail its findings, methodologies, and any changes in its risk assessments.

Highlighted Failings and Concerns

The hearing also brought up several specific concerns:

• Data Integrity – Some witnesses pointed out that the Office’s database includes incomplete or unverified entries, which compromises the reliability of any conclusions drawn.
• Lack of Follow‑Up on Reports – The 2021 Senate report noted that many UAP incidents were never revisited. The witnesses highlighted that the Office has largely ignored this recommendation.
• Insufficient Collaboration with Other Agencies – The UAP Office operates largely in isolation from agencies such as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the Air Force’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA‑E), which could provide valuable data and expertise.
• Unclear Accountability – Because the Office is nested within the Pentagon, it is not subject to the same oversight as civilian research agencies. This lack of external accountability, the witnesses argued, undermines public trust.

The Path Forward

At the end of the testimony, the witnesses urged the committee to take a series of concrete actions:

• Mandate an Independent Scientific Review – The committee should require the Pentagon to establish a civilian advisory panel that has direct access to the data.
• Secure Funding for Research – Congress must allocate funds specifically for scientific analysis of UAP data, rather than allowing the Office to rely on ad‑hoc or volunteer efforts.
• Enforce Data Transparency Standards – The Office should adopt a clear policy on how and when data will be released, with safeguards that preserve national security but also foster scientific inquiry.
• Establish a Clear Risk‑Assessment Protocol – The Office should codify what constitutes a potential threat and what metrics will trigger an operational response.

The witnesses’ criticism was not a blanket dismissal of the Pentagon’s efforts; rather, it was a pointed critique of the Office’s current methodology and an urgent plea for a more rigorous, transparent, and science‑driven approach. They framed their arguments within the broader context of national security: if the U.S. is to safeguard its airspace and maintain technological superiority, it must first understand the very phenomena that have long hovered in the skies above it.

Contextual Links for Further Reading

• The 2021 Senate Report on UAPs – The report that spurred the creation of the Office and provides the foundational context for the hearing.
• Pentagon’s Official UAP Office Page – Offers an overview of the Office’s structure, objectives, and recent activities.
• The House Armed Services Committee Hearing Transcript – Provides the full testimony and Q&A from the witnesses.

By summarizing these points, the article underscores that the Pentagon’s current UAP Office is at a crossroads: it can either maintain a cautious, opaque posture or pivot toward a data‑driven, scientifically robust model that aligns with the expectations of both the public and the defense establishment.