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U.S. NEWS Thursday 27 July 2023

Whistleblower tells Congress the U.S. is concealing ‘multi-decade’

program that captures UFOs

By NOMAAN MERCHANT did not address UFOs that
Associated Press are not suspected of being
WASHINGTON (AP) — The extraterrestrial objects.
U.S. is concealing a long- Grusch says he became a
standing program that government whistleblower
retrieves and reverse en- after his discovery and has
gineers unidentified flying faced retaliation for com-
objects, a former Air Force ing forward. He declined to
intelligence officer testified be more specific about the
Wednesday to Congress. retaliatory tactics, citing an
The Pentagon has denied ongoing investigation.
his claims. “It was very brutal and very
Retired Maj. David Grusch’s unfortunate, some of the
highly anticipated testimo- tactics they used to hurt
ny before a House Over- me both professionally and
sight subcommittee was personally,” he said.
Congress’ latest foray into Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-
the world of UAPs or “un- Wis., chaired the panel’s
identified aerial phenom- hearing and joked to a
ena,” which is the official packed audience, “Wel-
term the U.S. government come to the most exciting
uses instead of UFOs. While subcommittee in Congress
the study of mysterious this week.” There was bi-
aircraft or objects often U.S. Air Force (Ret.) Maj. David Grusch, testifies before a House Oversight and Accountability partisan interest in Grusch’s
subcommittee hearing on UFOs, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
evokes talk of aliens and Associated Press claims and a more sober
“little green men,” Demo- tone than other recent
crats and Republicans in classified programs relating engineering program to ment, Defense Department hearings featuring whistle-
recent years have pushed to the task force’s mission. which I was denied access,” spokeswoman Sue Gough blowers celebrated by Re-
for more research as a na- At the time, Grusch was de- he said. Asked whether the said investigators have not publicans and criticized by
tional security matter due tailed to the National Re- U.S. government had infor- discovered “any verifiable Democrats. Lawmakers in
to concerns that sightings connaissance Office, the mation about extraterrestri- information to substantiate both parties asked Grusch
observed by pilots may be agency that operates U.S. al life, Grusch said the U.S. claims that any programs about his study of UFOs
tied to U.S. adversaries. spy satellites. likely has been aware of regarding the possession or and the consequences
Grusch said he was asked “I was informed in the “non-human” activity since reverse-engineering of ex- he faced and how they
in 2019 by the head of a course of my official du- the 1930s. The Pentagon traterrestrial materials have could find out more about
government task force on ties of a multi-decade UAP has denied Grusch’s claims existed in the past or exist the government’s UAP
UAPs to identify all highly crash retrieval and reverse of a coverup. In a state- currently.” The statement programs.q

Biden chooses former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley to lead the

Social Security Administration

By FATIMA HUSSEIN of his work,” Biden said in a his administration and en- as Maryland’s governor higher budget deficits or
Associated Press statement. “As Governor, hanced the way millions of from 2007 to 2015 and potential cuts to other pro-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- he made government work people accessed critical was Baltimore mayor for grams.
dent Joe Biden on Wednes- more effectively across services.” O’Malley served two terms. He also ran as All of the options are politi-
day nominated former a Democratic presidential cally controversial.
Maryland Gov. Martin candidate in 2016 but has Currently, full Social Security
O’Malley to lead the Social ruled out running in the fu- benefits are available at 67,
Security Administration. ture. an age minimum that’s in-
If confirmed, O’Malley The annual Social Security creased by two years since
would run one of the big- and Medicare trustees re- the program was first cre-
gest social programs in the port released in March says ated roughly 90 years ago.
nation and grapple with the program’s trust fund will Everett Kelley, president of
the surrounding uncertainty be unable to pay full ben- the American Federation
over its funding. Roughly 70 efits in about 10 years. of Government Employees
million people including re- If the fund is depleted, the workers union, applauded
tirees, disabled people and government will be able to O’Malley’s nomination,
children receive Social Se- pay only 80% of scheduled and said he “is a strong ad-
curity benefits. benefits, the report said. vocate for working people
“Governor O’Malley is a There are few options avail- and labor rights, and he
lifelong public servant who able to keep the program has the skills and experi-
has spent his career mak- Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley stands onstage following healthy: raise taxes, raise ence necessary to tackle
ing government more ac- an inauguration ceremony for Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh eligibility age, cut costs or the various challenges fac-
cessible and transparent, inside the War Memorial Building in Baltimore, Dec. 6, 2016. rely more on general rev- ing SSA like the recruitment
while keeping the Ameri- Associated Press enues to cover the gap in and retention of its dedi-
can people at the heart funding, which could mean cated workforce.”q