Summary
Rep. eric-burlison publicly released, with administration authorization, an odni memorandum (ES 2026-00818, dated 7/31/26, signed by Principal Deputy DNI aaron-lukas) providing “preliminary implementation guidance” for donald-trump’s July 21, 2026 directive to waive UAP-related NDAs (see src-trump-uap-nda-waiver-directive-2026-07). This is the first concrete, primary-source implementation document following that directive — moving it from announced policy to a distributed interagency memo. The memo directs the department-of-war and Intelligence Community to waive prior NDAs, oaths, and commitments when personnel disclose UAP information to authorized representatives of aaro or pursue, and orders all IC members to designate a PURSUE point of contact within 30 days and notify their workforce. It was distributed to the heads of CIA, DIA, NGA, NRO, NSA, FBI, and intelligence components across DoW, DHS, State, Treasury, DEA, DOE, and all armed services branches. Burlison’s office continues to offer constituent-assistance for whistleblowers navigating the process, consistent with his broader uap-whistleblower-protections advocacy.
Key Claims
- The memo provides “preliminary guidance for the release of all UAP information to the PURSUE Task Force for review and declassification” (ODNI memo, ES 2026-00818).
- Current and former government employees/contractors with relevant UAP information will have prior NDAs, agreements, oaths, or commitments waived when speaking with authorized AARO or PURSUE representatives (ODNI memo).
- All IC members must, within 30 days, coordinate with ODNI to establish a PURSUE designee and inform their workforce that prior NDAs no longer bar disclosure to the President or PURSUE (ODNI memo).
- Detailed reporting procedures, and broader PURSUE transparency-project implementation guidance from DoW and ODNI, are promised “within the next 30 days” of the memo (issued 7/31/26).
- The memo was signed by Aaron Lukas, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and distributed to CIA, DIA, NGA, NRO, NSA, FBI, and DoW/DHS/State/Treasury/DEA/DOE intelligence components plus all armed-service intelligence chiefs.
- Administration authorized Burlison’s office specifically to publicly distribute the memo.
Notable Quotes
“This memorandum provides preliminary guidance for the release of all Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) information to the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE) Task Force for review and declassification.” — ODNI memo (ES 2026-00818)
“…current and former government employees and contractors with relevant information on UAPs shall have prior non-disclosure agreements (NDA), agreements, oaths, or commitments waived when speaking with authorized government representatives of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) or PURSUE.” — ODNI memo
“Congressman Burlison thanked President Trump for directing the implementation of the UAP NDA waiver and welcomed the administration’s preliminary guidance as an important step toward increasing transparency.” — press release