Explosive claims at Congress
In June 2023, Grusch publicly claimed that unnamed officials informed him that the US government maintains a highly secretive UFO recovery program, possesses “non-human” spacecraft and has recovered “dead pilots”. Those allegations led to intense global interest, speculation and excitement.
The following month, he made those claims in the most high-profile setting imaginable – Congress. He testified under oath before a House Committee on Oversight and Accountability where he outlined the existence of a multi-decade UAP (unidentified aerial phenomena) crash retrieval and reverse-engineering program to which he was denied access.
He also stated that the government has been covering up its activities for close to a century and that he has personal knowledge of people who have been harmed or injured as a result. Grusch limited his statements to what he could publicly divulge without violating laws dealing with classified information.
During the hearing, Grusch was one of three witnesses. He was joined by Ryan Graves and David Fravor, two former US Navy fighter pilots. Graves previously remarked that he had seen UAP activity off the Atlantic Coast “every day for a couple of years” while Fravor recounted his experiences of encountering a UAP during a mission in 2004, stating that “the technology we faced was far superior to anything that we had”.
Deciding to blow the whistle
At the hearing Grusch said that he became a whistleblower “following concerning reports from multiple esteemed and credentialed current and former military and Intelligence Community individuals that the US government is operating with secrecy above Congressional oversight with regards to UAPs”.
He explained that his testimony was based on information provided by individuals with a longstanding track record of legitimacy and service to the US. He added that many of them shared compelling evidence in the form on photography, official documents and classified oral testimony.
Grusch filed a whistleblower complaint with the US Office of the Intelligence Community Inspector General to support his plan to share classified information with the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in 2022.
Retaliation
Whistleblowers often experience retaliation and this case is no exception. Grusch filed a complaint alleging reprisals by his superiors due to complaints he made in 2021. When asked about whether he faced any retaliation or reprisals during the July 2023 hearing, he cited the ongoing investigation as the reason he could not go into detail.
However, he confirmed that he has faced “very brutal” retaliation since he spoke out and that some of the tactics used “hurt him both professionally and personally”. He added: “I do have knowledge of active planned reprisal activity against myself and other colleagues and it’s very very upsetting to me”.
When quizzed on where these threats are emanating from, he pointed the finger at senior leadership at previous agencies he was associated with. He also stated that “certain colleagues of mine were brutally administratively attacked” in activity Grusch described as “administrative terrorism”. He went on to describe threats against career paths and reputations that helped silence people.
When a committee member asked if he had feared for his life, Grusch stated “Yes, definitely”. Referring to his motivations for speaking out, he said that “I am hopeful that my actions will ultimately lead to a positive outcome of increased transparency”.
Conclusion
Allegations that the US government has been covering up mankind’s most extraordinary secret are not new, and rumours have circulated for decades. Over the past six years, however, the UAP issue has made its way to the highest levels of government and whistleblower David Grusch has found himself at the very centre of the discussion. The well-respected former intelligence officer admirably served in sensitive positions and used proper channels and procedures to blow the whistle. While many will still consider his extraordinary claims outlandish, they could well change the world.
Whistleblowing Laws in the European Union
A glance at the implementation of the EU Whistleblowing Directive in EU Member States
