The Pentagon dropped its first batch of declassified unidentified aerial phenomena files on May 8, 2026 — a move ordered by President Donald Trump and delivered through a new online portal. The initial release hit the PURSUE system on WAR.GOV/UFO, marking the start of what officials say will be a rolling disclosure every few weeks.
A phased rollout
The Department of War, which now oversees the release, said more files will follow in regular installments. No timeline has been set for how long the drip-feed will last, but the agency framed it as a deliberate effort to avoid overwhelming the public or the review process. The first tranche includes records that have been scrubbed of classified material, though the exact number of documents and their contents were not immediately detailed.
Trump's directive to declassify UAP files had been anticipated since late 2025, when a $16 million prediction market on Polymarket — asking whether the administration would declassify UFO files in 2025 — resolved 'Yes' earlier this year. That resolution, however, attracted controversy.
Betting on disclosure
Polymarket's alien disclosure market has seen cumulative volume top $33 million, a sign of intense public and speculative interest. As of May 8, a separate market asking whether a senior U.S. official will confirm extraterrestrial life before year's end sat at 19%. Another market, priced at 83% on December 31, predicts Trump will declassify new UFO files in 2026.
The numbers reflect a betting public that's grown accustomed to these kinds of political-prop bets. But not all participants are happy with how they're settled.
A contested resolution
The $16 million market that resolved 'Yes' on 2025 declassification drew sharp criticism. Some users called the outcome a scam, alleging manipulation of the UMA oracle — the mechanism used to determine truth in Polymarket's decentralized system. The platform hasn't publicly addressed the complaints, but the episode underscores the risk of relying on oracles for politically charged questions.
With the first files now out, attention turns to what the next batch contains — and whether the rolling releases will quiet skeptics or fuel more debate.
