Not many people noticed it because it was tucked away in a “committee comment”, an attachment to the 5,593-page bill that automatically becomes a part of the legislation. The $2.3 trillion COVID-19 relief package was signed by President Trump on 12/27/2020. The verbiage says the bill:
“Directs the [director of national intelligence], in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the heads of such other agencies… to submit a report within 180 days of the date of enactment of the Act, to the congressional intelligence and armed services committees on unidentified aerial phenomena.”
This is a stunning development. The resulting report must address all “airborne objects that have not been identified” and must provide a detailed analysis of each sighting including whether or not the object could be attributed to “one or more foreign adversaries”.
Defense Department officials were asked about the bill’s directive. Their official spokesperson confirmed the requirement to The New York Post:
“We are aware that the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence committee report on the Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal 2021 included a requirement for the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to submit a report on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) within 180 days of enactment.”