A whistleblower came forward with claims of a secret Pentagon program, allegedly tasked with gathering information on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), commonly known as UFOs. The program, referred to as “Immaculate Constellation,” reportedly operated without congressional oversight for years, according to independent journalist Michael Shellenberger.

In an interview with NewsNation, Shellenberger said the whistleblower stumbled upon the program by accident and detailed several UFO incidents.

In one instance, orbs reportedly surrounded an F-22 fighter jet, forcing it to leave its patrol area. In another, a Navy aircraft crew witnessed an orange-red sphere descending from high altitude, leaving them with an unsettling sense of unease.

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The whistleblower, whose identity remains confidential due to concerns for their safety, also claimed that the Department of Defense created “Immaculate Constellation” in 2017 after The New York Times revealed the existence of another Pentagon program, the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), which investigated UAP encounters.

The Department of Defense has strongly denied the allegations.

“The Department of Defense has no record, present or historical, of any type of SAP (Special Access Program) called ‘Immaculate Constellation,'” spokesperson Sue Gough said in a statement to NewsNation.

Despite the Pentagon’s denial, the whistleblower’s claims echo previous allegations made by former intelligence officials.

In 2023, former Air Force officer David Grusch testified to Congress about a secret UAP retrieval program, asserting that the Pentagon had been operating such programs without public knowledge or oversight.

The disclosure adds to the growing interest in UAPs, with bipartisan calls for greater transparency. Lawmakers, including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., have been pressing for more information on the government’s handling of UAP investigations.

Earlier this year, Congress held hearings to explore UAP phenomena and potential national security risks associated with unexplained aerial sightings.

While the Pentagon maintains that UAP reports are often misidentified drones, classified military projects, or known aerial objects, the whistleblower’s report has renewed demands for accountability and disclosure.

In the coming months, more hearings and investigations are expected, as lawmakers and the public continue to seek answers regarding the government’s handling of UAP encounters and the alleged existence of classified programs such as “Immaculate Constellation.”