Secret FBI UFO research group disclosed?

[Duke]

"I have spoken to several agents from the UAP Working Group who are afraid of losing their role and the investigation getting unintentionally compromised," said Ryan Graves, executive director of Americans for Safe Aerospace.

"I am concerned that the FBI's UAP Working Group could be affected by transition changes, and these leaders might not be aware of the incredible work these agents are doing and how their investigation could be empowered as part of a formalized intergovernmental effort."

The group in question is believed to consist of one program manager and at least a dozen employees.

https://www.unexplained-mysteries.c...arch-group-disclosed-amid-musk-purge-concerns

No proof offered such a working group exists. If the FBI operates similarly to the USAF, a "working group" is a formal body with an approved charter. That document will identify group purpose, participating organizations/offices with roles/responsibilities defined, reporting chain, decision making, coordination, and distribution processes, working relationships (if any) outside the Bureau, etc. That document should be obtainable through a FOIA request, along with meeting minutes, trip reports, funding profiles, position descriptions of those assigned to the group, etc. Greenewald would have a field day.

If anything even close to this exists, I have a feeling we could be looking at another AATIP scenario. Individuals, or a small group of individuals, within the Bureau interested in UFOs working back channelish. Could also be an FBI office/branch that has responsibilities for aviation related federal crimes, like flying private drones in restricted airspace. I also doubt the group, if it exists, is "secret" as the article claims.

 

[Mendel]

I also doubt the group, if it exists, is "secret" as the article claims.

if the group was secret, presumably they wouldn't talk to Graves about their work

 

[Mendel]

your source is referencing Politico. i found these paragraphs interesting:

Article:

Graves said that for more than a year, his group has worked with the FBI team to refer interested witnesses, leads and open source intelligence to help the bureau's efforts to protect the country and the aviation industry from unidentified phenomena. He said the agents have interviewed interested witnesses and "plus up" these reports with classified information.

Caison Best, a former Army special forces intelligence officer who said in an interview that he had spoken to members of the FBI working group after witnessing a UAP in Colorado, said it would be "obviously detrimental" to its UAP investigation if those agents were fired.

Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/03/fbi-ufo-jan-6-011316

 

[Mendel]

The FBI seems to send this statement out to people who inquire:

FBI response to me: "Thanks for reaching out. While we have no comment on any questions regarding FBI personnel matters, the FBI investigates Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena when there is potential for a violation of federal law—particularly unlawful acts that could adversely affect our national interests—and to gather, share, and analyze intelligence to combat security threats facing the U.S."

Source: https://x.com/MiddleOfMayhem/status/1886555040544170156

 

[deirdre]

No proof offered such a working group exists.

the source politico says it's 'informal'. so basically instead of joining the softball team they spend their weekends investigating ufos.

Article:

The existence of the FBI's informal working group on the issue has not been disclosed publicly before.

Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/03/fbi-ufo-jan-6-011316

Article:

FBI agents who are part of a secretive group investigating the surge of "unidentified anomalous phenomena," what the government uses to refer to UFOs, are worried that they could lose their jobs in a possible FBI purge targeting officials who worked on Jan. 6 cases, according to four people familiar with the matter.

Some of the FBI agents who work in the group also worked on Jan. 6 cases, according to the people. All agents across the bureau have been ordered to fill out a questionnaire about their work on the Capitol attack. There are worries that the move could lead to a Trump-ordered purge at the agency, said the people, some of whom were granted anonymity to discuss personnel matters

Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/03/fbi-ufo-jan-6-011316

 

[jdog]

the source politico says it's 'informal'. so basically instead of joining the softball team they spend their weekends investigating ufos.

UFOs one weekend, monsters the next?

I don't think they're going to be allowed to probe any government cover-ups in this climate, unless someone has a well-connected, cigarette-smoking father...

 

[mystry]

Whether or not group X or Y exists, and regardless of the quality of journalism, is the response by the FBI, itself, that the FBI does investigate UAP of no significance? It may suggest the real possibility of a group or groups of some sort within the FBI having to do with UAPs or related considerations, such as illegal allocation of funds...

 

[MonkeeSage]

Whether or not group X or Y exists, and regardless of the quality of journalism, is the response by the FBI, itself, that the FBI does investigate UAP of no significance?

They didn't say whether they had a group dedicated to investigating UAP, just that they do so "when there is potential for a violation of federal law...and to gather, share, and analyze intelligence to combat security threats facing the U.S." It sounds like they just happen to investigate UAP when it's tangential to their mission going by that statement. Sounds like it would be at times like when reported drones could potentially be operated by foreign powers, or when civilians are operating drones in restricted areas, when a spy balloon is flying over the country, etc.

It may suggest the real possibility of a group or groups of some sort within the FBI having to do with UAPs or related considerations, such as illegal allocation of funds...

It's certainly possible. I think that would fall under in what @Duke was referring to as an AATIP scenario in OP. Right now though, we only have statements from anonymous sources we can't vet, and the FBI statement that they won't comment on roles of personnel. Until we have more information, or a paper trail, or a source we can look into, we can't do much more than treat it as a rumor.

I think it's good to have a thread though even though all we have is a rumor right now, to be aware the claim is out there, and have a place to discuss if people find more info or there are further developments (like if John Greenwald were to receive information about this via FOIA).

 

[Mendel]

The FBI seems to send this statement out to people who inquire:

FBI response to me: "Thanks for reaching out. While we have no comment on any questions regarding FBI personnel matters, the FBI investigates Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena when there is potential for a violation of federal law—particularly unlawful acts that could adversely affect our national interests—and to gather, share, and analyze intelligence to combat security threats facing the U.S."

Here's what the FBI does:

Article:

Does the FBI Have an Aviation Division?

With its wide-ranging responsibilities encompassing counterterrorism, intelligence gathering, and criminal investigations, it should come as no surprise that the FBI has a specialized unit dedicated to aviation. Known as the FBI's Aviation Division, this crucial component plays a pivotal role in executing the Bureau's aviation-related operations.

FBI Aviation was established to enhance the FBI's capabilities in addressing criminal activities and threats that involve aviation. It provides crucial support to field offices across the United States, as well as to international allies, ensuring a coordinated and efficient response to aviation-related incidents.

Is the FBI's Aviation Program Classified?

While the FBI's operations and intelligence-gathering methods often require a degree of confidentiality for security reasons, the general functions of the FBI's Aviation Division are not classified. The Bureau acknowledges and openly discusses its aviation program as part of its overall commitment to transparency and public awareness.

[...]

The FBI has jurisdiction over a diverse array of aviation-related crimes, including:
Aircraft hijackings, Bombings, Assaults on airline personnel, Smuggling of contraband, Attacks against airports or aircraft

The Bureau also investigates incidents involving the use of aircraft for illicit purposes, such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, and terrorism.

[...]

The FBI employs radar systems on its aircraft to detect and track airborne targets, monitor airspace, and provide situational awareness. These radar systems assist in identifying unauthorized aircraft, detecting low-flying objects, and supporting overall airspace security and aviation logistics.

Source: https://www.governmentprocurement.com/news/fbi-aviation

For example, in December the FBI apprehended a drone operator near Boston airport:

Article:

Because of the drone's proximity to an airport, FBI counter-terrorism agents helped the investigation.

Source: https://www.metabunk.org/threads/drones-over-new-jersey.13770/post-330784

So, what are reasonable assumptions?
• the FBI investigates reports of illegal drones because they could be smuggling, or threatening aviation
• they'd investigate reports of anything moving in the sky even if it's unidentified if it could be one of the above
• some of these people are organized under "counterterrorism"
• the counterterrorism unit investigated Jan 6th 2021

That means:
• the FBI has jurisdiction to investigate (some) UAPs as part of their normal job
• Graves is probably right in that some of these agents investigated Jan 6th
• I don't see any indication that the FBI has a "UFO hunters" group or anything like that. Graves is not an insider, and we know he speaks with bias, having presented pilot sightings of Starlink flares as UAP threats.

P.S.
This explains why the Tedescos acknowledged an FBI counterterrorism agent in their latest "paper".

 

[JMartJr]

Whether or not group X or Y exists, and regardless of the quality of journalism, is the response by the FBI, itself, that the FBI does investigate UAP of no significance? It may suggest the real possibility of a group or groups of some sort within the FBI having to do with UAPs or related considerations, such as illegal allocation of funds...

That seems to be making a pretty big pot of gumbo with only one oyster -- or, less colloquially, that seems to be a very small basis for such large speculations.

 

[mystry]

The key words were "It may suggest." If you give any possible credence to whistleblowers' remarks about government UAP programs (legit or bogus) being funded illegally, the above statement by the FBI is by no means inconsistent with such. In no way did I say I am convinced and I am not making gumbo, but I do take small note of said quote in the larger context of claims, rather than wholly writing it off. My post contains the necessary language to enable a more subtle interpretation than it may have received

 

[MapperGuy]

People are making far too much of the word SECRET.

It sounds to me like "Unofficial Chat Group" would be a better description, a group of FBI people talking about a topic. Using the network they use everyday for their routine work.

People should remember that groups like the FBI, and others in the government, do NOT spend their time making every action by every employee public knowledge each and every day. They don't go around and tell the neighbors of a person under covert surveillance that their neighbor is under covert surveillance. It would not be COVERT anymore.

So people SHOULD expect to NOT be told about everything the FBI does, in great detail, on a daily basis. The does not make that activity "secret". It just means they doing investigations. Or they are keeping in touch with fellow employees, on a topic of mutual interest.

And on the topic of illegal funding, publishing a detailed list of every contract and purchase and activity that costs money in some way would be perfect for making every secret no longer secret. Just because the general public does not know every detail about it does not make it illegal.

 

[Mendel]

The key words were "It may suggest."

But "it" doesn't. There is no "it". Absolutely nothing suggests that the FBI is investing UAP-related "illegal allocation of funds".
I'm sure that they generally have people that would investigate embezzlement of public funds.
And as I've pointed out, they also have a unit that investigates airborne threats.
But there is zero evidence—not even in what Graves said—that the FBI is investigating a secretly funded UAP program. That is 100% wishful thinking.

It sounds to me like "Unofficial Chat Group" would be a better description, a group of FBI people talking about a topic. Using the network they use everyday for their routine work.

Again, no "it". There is zero evidence that an unofficial group like that exists in the FBI.
We have testimony that there is one in the Pentagon, but I don't see that claimed for the FBI.

 

[mystry]

I would agree, as you say, as to FBI "investing," but I think you *may* not be considering things enough, taking what they say with respect to considering there *might* be some *possible investigation* behind the scenes, when congressmen, former intelligence officers, high ranking servicemen, etc., are making some big statements... I don't know, but stand by my taking note of it. Have a nice evening too!

 

[Mendel]

I would agree, as you say, as to FBI "investing," but I think you *may* not be considering things enough, taking what they say with respect to considering there *might* be some *possible investigation* behind the scenes, when congressmen, former intelligence officers, high ranking servicemen, etc., are making some big statements... I don't know, but stand by my taking note of it. Have a nice evening too!

Name the people, quote their statements, and then we can compare with other "big statements" these specific people have made on this topic in the past.
Not everyone with one of these job titles has an unblemished record.