David Grusch, a former Air Force intelligence officer and whistleblower on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), accused intelligence agencies of concealing billions of dollars in government spending from Congress during a press conference on June 10, 2026. Grusch described these funds as "slush funds" that operate outside normal congressional oversight, suggesting they support activities not subject to typical scrutiny. He stated, "This is also a real fraud, waste and abuse issue," and claimed these funds amount to billions annually.
The allegations arise amid renewed efforts by lawmakers and the Trump administration to declassify records related to UAPs, with hundreds of pages of previously secret files being released. Grusch, who previously served on the Pentagon's UAP Task Force, gained attention in 2023 for his testimony regarding government efforts to recover and study unidentified crafts.
The fiscal year 2027 budget proposed by the Trump administration includes approximately $132 billion for military and national intelligence spending, much of which is classified and accessible only to a limited number of officials. Grusch also claimed that the government is aware of several different alien species, although he did not provide evidence for this assertion.
He accused the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) of obstructing congressional oversight, stating that lawmakers' requests for information have not been fully met. Bipartisan lawmakers joined Grusch in the press conference, expressing frustration over the lack of cooperation from agencies. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) noted significant pushback from agencies when lawmakers sought information, while Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) emphasized the need for penalties for officials who withhold information.
The Pentagon has repeatedly stated that investigations have not confirmed the existence of extraterrestrial technology, and past reviews have disputed claims of secret crash-retrieval programs. Lawmakers are advocating for greater transparency and have discussed immunity protections for potential witnesses with knowledge of UAP-related activities. The event followed the recent release of classified UAP records, which some see as a sign of increased government transparency, despite ongoing concerns about classified information.