Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) whistleblower and former Air Force intelligence officer David Grosch accused intelligence agencies on Tuesday of hiding billions of dollars in secret government spending from Congress, as lawmakers renewed demands for records they say federal officials continue to withhold.
His investigation uncovered what he described as “illicit funds” — pools of money allegedly operating outside regular congressional oversight channels — worth billions of dollars annually that were allegedly used to support activities that operate outside normal oversight channels, Grosch said, speaking at an event on Capitol Hill alongside members of the House Task Force on Declassifying Federal Secrets.
“This is also a real case of fraud, waste and abuse,” Grosch said. “During my investigation, I found huge sums of money worth billions of dollars annually for these activities.”
The allegations come as lawmakers and the Trump administration intensify efforts to declassify government records of unidentified weather phenomena, releasing hundreds of pages of previously classified files and renewing pressure on agencies to reveal what they know about unexplained weather incidents.
Grosh, who served on the Pentagon’s Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force and then as a National Reconnaissance Office representative on the task force, first gained national attention in 2023 when he testified before Congress about alleged government efforts to recover and study unidentified aircraft.
The Trump administration’s fiscal year 2027 budget includes nearly $132 billion in national military and intelligence spending, much of it housed in classified programs accessible only to a limited group of exonerated officials and lawmakers.
Asked what the government knows about non-human intelligence, Grosh claimed that the government is aware of the existence of “several” different alien species.
“It’s a continuum from bipedal physical life, to what I would consider like conscious plasma life,” Grosch said. But there are many things that this government knows about.”
He did not provide details about this claim or provide evidence during the event.
Grosh specifically accused the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Pentagon’s main military intelligence agency, of obstructing congressional oversight efforts, arguing that records requested by lawmakers were not fully provided despite what he described as lawful requests from Congress. He urged the agency to release additional documents for review and declassification.
It was not immediately possible to reach Doha International Airport for comment.
The Pentagon has consistently said investigations have uncovered no confirmed evidence of extraterrestrial technology, and previous government audits have cast doubt on claims of secret malfunction recovery programs.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers joined Grosch during the news conference, arguing that agencies continued to resist congressional efforts to obtain information related to unspecified anomalies.
“We would ask questions, and then they would fight back,” said Rep. Jared Moskowitz, Democrat of Florida. “We would ask more questions, and resistance would become more important.” “We will try to put language in an amendment, in a bill, and they will oppose it.”
Rep. Eric Burleson, Republican of Missouri, added: “There must be real penalties for officials who intentionally withhold information from Congress.”
Moskowitz also linked the debate to broader concerns about Pentagon accountability.
“There are trillions of dollars missing from the Pentagon. Where is this money going?” He said.
The Pentagon has failed seven consecutive annual audits, though defense officials said those findings reflect long-standing challenges in asset tracking and accounting systems across the department.
Grosh said more witnesses remain reluctant to come forward due to concerns about retaliation and legal exposure.
Burleson called on President Donald Trump to waive nondisclosure agreements for individuals with knowledge of alleged government UAP programs and grant immunity to those willing to testify.
“Give immunity to anyone who has already come forward, and everyone who will come forward,” Burleson said. “Open the door and let them talk.”
“Congress is requesting specific recordings and videos,” Burleson added. “These agencies and contractors know we know they are out there, and we will release them.”
Burleson said lawmakers have continued to pressure agencies and defense contractors to obtain records they believe remain classified despite recent disclosure efforts.
He said his office obtained MQ-9 footage of a UAP incident off the coast of Yemen that was delivered through what he described as a “Tom Clancy-style dead drop.”
Lawmakers argued that additional disclosure may depend on convincing more witnesses to come forward.
Rep. Ana Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who chairs the House task force studying the issue, said lawmakers are discussing immunity protections for individuals with knowledge of the locations of alleged crafts, recovered materials or advanced technologies.
The renewed push comes as lawmakers seek greater access to information tied to some of the government’s most closely-connected programs.
Federal investigators recently alleged that former CIA official David Rush used a fraudulent “special access program” as part of a scheme involving more than $40 million in gold bullion and millions in government funds, drawing renewed attention to how highly restrictive government programs can operate with limited outside visibility.
The event comes weeks after the Trump administration released a trove of previously secret UAP records, including military reports, sensor data and witness accounts that had long remained hidden from public view.
Lawmakers and disclosure advocates have pointed to those releases as evidence that the government is becoming more transparent about UAP investigations, while arguing that large amounts of information remain classified.