Summary:
President Trump has ordered the Department of War and the intelligence community to waive prior nondisclosure agreements for former government employees and contractors holding relevant Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena information. The directive permits them to provide that information to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office or the President’s UAP task force, PURSUE. Fox News Digital first reported the development on 21 July. The Department of War has since confirmed its full support through a formal statement by its chief spokesman.
Detailed Report
1. Presidential Directive and Pentagon Confirmation
Fox News Digital reported on 21 July that President Trump directed the Department of War and the intelligence community to allow former government employees and contractors with relevant UAP information to come forward. According to a senior administration official, these individuals may meet with designated representatives at AARO or the President’s UAP task force, PURSUE, and have their prior nondisclosure agreements abrogated.
Sean Parnell, Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs and Chief Pentagon Spokesman, issued a formal statement the same day:
“The Department of War fully supports President Trump’s critical directive to waive nondisclosure agreements for former government employees and contractors with relevant UAP information. This will allow them to come forward through official channels like @DOW_AARO and PURSUE.
The President’s bold step also removes longstanding barriers and advances the administration’s commitment to unprecedented transparency. It will ensure any new insights into Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena can be properly reviewed and shared with the American people, building on the historic declassifications efforts under PURSUE.”
2. Authorized Channels and Limits of the Directive
Individuals who believe they possess relevant UAP information would first meet with cleared officials at AARO or PURSUE. During those authorized discussions, applicable nondisclosure agreements could be waived, enabling the sharing of information without automatic violation of prior agreements.
Officials have emphasized that the directive is not a declassification order. Any information received would remain subject to standard declassification review before any potential public release. The measure is confined to cooperation through official government channels.
3. Longstanding Barriers to Witness Cooperation
Nondisclosure agreements and the associated risk of professional or legal consequences have repeatedly been identified as obstacles that deter potential witnesses from engaging with official inquiries.
In June 2026, several lawmakers and transparency advocates publicly urged the White House to waive NDAs and consider amnesty or immunity for individuals with knowledge of UAP-related programs. They argued that fear of reprisal had restricted the flow of information to Congress and investigators. Similar concerns were raised in earlier congressional hearings. In 2023, then-Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Marco Rubio noted that some potential witnesses remained fearful for their jobs, security clearances, and personal safety.
The new directive creates a defined pathway for former personnel to share information inside authorized channels without automatically breaching existing agreements.
4. Placement Within the Broader Transparency Effort
The directive forms part of the administration’s wider 2026 effort to increase transparency on UAP matters. In February, President Trump directed relevant departments and agencies to identify and release government files related to UAP, unidentified flying objects, and associated subjects.
That process is being implemented through the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE), overseen by the Department of War with support from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Multiple tranches of previously withheld records have been released on a rolling basis:
Conclusion
The directive establishes a formal mechanism for former personnel to share UAP-related information with authorized government offices without automatically violating prior nondisclosure agreements. It addresses a barrier that has been publicly identified by lawmakers and advocates while preserving standard review procedures for any material that may eventually be considered for public release.
Implementation details and any resulting disclosures have not yet been announced.