The Senate Intelligence Committee asked the Pentagon to compile a public analysis of “unidentified” flying objects in its annual authorization bill from last week.
The committee, led by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), voted to ask the Defense Department in partnership with intelligence agencies to review all data and intelligence on “unidentified aerial phenomenon” in its authorization bill. The June 17-dated authorization bill still needs approval from the full Senate.
“The Committee remains concerned that there is no unified, comprehensive process within the Federal Government for collecting and analyzing intelligence on unidentified aerial phenomena, despite the potential threat,” the bill reads.
“The Committee understands that the relevant intelligence may be sensitive; nevertheless, the Committee finds that the information sharing and coordination across the Intelligence Community has been inconsistent, and this issue has lacked attention from senior leaders,” it continues.
The bill specifically calls on the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force at the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) to standardize its data collection and to see if any UFOs are linked to “adversarial foreign governments” or pose a threat to “U.S. military assets and installations.”
The Intelligence Committee requested the unclassified analysis within 180 days of the bill’s passage, including from the ONI, the FBI, satellites and human spies. The report could include a classified annex.
The committee asked for clarification on how the agencies share information and who is responsible for what and “recommendations regarding increased collection of data, enhanced research and development, and additional funding and other resources.”
The Pentagon officially released videos of “unidentified” flying objects in April that had previously been leaked to the public.
Rubio’s office did not immediately return a request for comment.