Close to half of all Americans think that the U.S. government is hiding information about the existence of unidentified flying objects, or unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), according to a new poll from NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ.
The poll, which surveyed 521 Republicans, 559 Democrats, 349 independents and 18 “other” voters, found that 44 percent of Americans believe that the government is concealing UFO information, while 28 percent disagree and another 28 percent are unsure.
Young Americans are particularly suspicious, with 49 percent of Gen Z respondents and 48 percent of millennials believing in government UFO secrecy, compared to just 34 percent of baby boomers.
The poll revealed demographic differences, with 52 percent of Black respondents and 49 percent of Hispanic voters believing in government UFO concealment, compared to 41 percent of white voters.
Political affiliation also influenced beliefs, with 48 percent of Republicans saying the government hides UFO information versus 39 percent of Democrats. Independents aligned more closely with Republicans at 44 percent.
Men were more likely than women to believe the government is not being transparent about UAPs (47 percent vs. 41 percent), while urban residents showed higher levels of belief (47 percent) compared to rural areas (41 percent).
Education levels also played a role in respondents’ views. Those with a high school education or less (52 percent) were more likely to believe in government UFO concealment than college graduates (36 percent).
Regional differences were modest but notable, with the South showing the highest level of belief (48 percent) and the Midwest the lowest (37 percent).
The survey’s findings come amid increased attention to UAPs following congressional hearings and Pentagon reports acknowledging unexplained encounters by military personnel.
House Oversight Committee gives no answer on UAP sightings
The House Oversight Committee met Tuesday to discuss unauthorized drone activity over U.S. military sites. Lawmakers pressed Pentagon and Federal Aviation Administration officials about the reports and their response.
The hearing was held months after the White House said the mysterious drones spotted over New Jersey at the end of 2024 were not “the work of an adversary.” The sightings in New Jersey prompted concern from residents for weeks.
Lawmakers are slated to continue questioning the drone sightings and their place in national security.
The House Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs has said sightings of UFOs above military bases have increased and that those sites are being exposed to surveillance, espionage and potential weaponization.
President Trump had said in January the drones were authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The NewsNation/DDHQ survey was conducted April 23-27 among 1,448 registered voters. The margin of error is 2.4 percentage points.
NewsNation’s Brooke Shafer contributed to this report.
