FBI Director Patel Confirms FBI Handed UAP Documents to PURSUE Inter-Agency Committee

FBI Director Kash Patel publicly confirmed that the FBI has handed over its first batch of classified UAP-related documents to the Pentagon-led inter-agency PURSUE committee, in preparation for the May 8 public release. This marks the first confirmed public acknowledgment of FBI participation in the PURSUE declassification process. The FBI's UAP files are expected to constitute a significant portion of the Tranche 1 release — reports indicate 56 of the 162 files in the first tranche originated from the FBI. The handoff follows Rep. Burlison's February 2026 request to Patel to investigate the death of potential UAP whistleblower Matthew Sullivan.