The Trump administration has established a new panel aimed at addressing Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) sightings and encounters, marking a renewed government effort to investigate unexplained aerial events. The UAP Governance Board convened for the first time this week as part of a broader initiative to enhance transparency and coordination regarding UAP-related matters, according to officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).

The board’s primary function is to operate as an interagency body that brings together the capabilities and authorities of military, law enforcement, intelligence, and civilian agencies to collectively assess potential national security risks posed by UAPs. The initiative also seeks to streamline processes involved in investigating incidents and managing the collection and analysis of relevant data.

A key component of the effort includes facilitating the timely declassification and dissemination of UAP information, aligning with the executive branch’s directive to improve public understanding and governmental response.

Among the advisers named to the UAP Science Advisory Council, a smaller working group within the Governance Board, is Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, a figure known for his controversial views on interstellar objects. Loeb previously attracted attention for suggesting that the interstellar object 3I/Atlas could be an extraterrestrial probe. He highlighted the government’s limited scientific expertise and offered the advisory council’s role in guiding data collection and analysis. “We can help them figure things out,” Loeb said, emphasizing that any conclusions will be strictly data-driven and not influenced by public interest or speculation.

Loeb underscored the importance of maintaining focus on the phenomena themselves rather than external distractions, drawing an analogy to a sports team succeeding by concentrating on the game rather than the audience.

The newly formed board will operate without a dedicated budget and will have access only to declassified UAP-related data. Nevertheless, officials expressed hope that the initiative could contribute to resolving ongoing cases, including notable recent incidents such as the reported sighting of a glowing “mothership” orb near Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado in 2023, where smaller orbs were allegedly released.

While some explanations point to advanced drone technology, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office has determined that approximately 40 percent of observed UAPs cannot be explained by known U.S. capabilities or those of foreign adversaries, underscoring the challenge faced by the new governance body.