NASA Denies Existence of Classified Briefings on James Webb Telescope Discoveries

In recent weeks, rumors spread rapidly on social media suggesting that NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) had made an extraordinary discovery—potentially alien life—and that members of Congress had been briefed about it.

The rumors intensified after U.S. Representative Andre Carson, who had previously chaired a congressional hearing on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), declined to answer a question about classified briefings when asked by @AskaPol_UAPs run by journalist Matt Laslo on X.

The speculation prompted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, filed by The Black Vault on September 22, 2024, seeking any records—classified or unclassified—about JWST briefings provided to Congress, particularly related to the telescope’s findings. The request aimed to clarify whether any congressional briefings had been held about significant discoveries made by JWST, which has been in operation since 2021.

FOIA Request and NASA’s Response

The FOIA request specifically asked for:

“A copy of records (which includes videos/photos), electronic or otherwise, of all briefings about the James Webb Telescope and program, made for Congress. I ask that you include all CLASSIFIED and UNCLASSIFIED briefings on the James Webb telescope program, or briefings on findings made by that program.”

The request was limited to records from 2021 through the date of processing in 2024.

Earlier today, NASA responded to the FOIA request and confirmed they found “no records” related to the requested briefings. According to NASA’s FOIA response letter:

The Rumors Behind the Request

The rumors that prompted the FOIA request began circulating on social media platforms in mid-September 2024. Posts on platforms like X, YouTube, and TikTok claimed that JWST had detected a large object approximately 10 light-years away, which was allegedly moving toward Earth. These posts went as far as to speculate that the object had to be an alien spacecraft due to its supposed unnatural change in trajectory.

One of the earliest mentions of the claim came from a YouTube video posted by Psicoactivo Podcast on September 17, 2024. The video stated that members of Congress were briefed about this discovery and that the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) were investigating the object. However, the video did not cite any sources to verify these claims.

As the rumors gained traction, on September 21, 2024, @AskaPol_UAPs asked Rep. Carson if he had attended classified briefings on JWST findings, to which Carson did not respond. His silence was interpreted by some as confirmation that such briefings had taken place, while others pointed out that “no comment” does not confirm anything.

Snopes Addresses the Rumor

On October 2, 2024, the fact-checking website Snopes published an article examining the claims about JWST discovering alien life. After receiving numerous inquiries, Snopes looked into the rumor and found no evidence that JWST had detected such an object, nor that Congress had been briefed on the matter. The article concluded that the claim was “unfounded and likely false.”

Snopes traced the rumor’s origins back to the September 17 YouTube video but found no corroborating information from NASA, other space agencies, or congressional sources. While it remains possible that JWST has detected unusual findings that are not yet public, Snopes found no basis for the specific claims about an alien spaceship or classified briefings.

Case Closed?

NASA’s FOIA response this morning adds further weight to the conclusion that no classified briefings related to JWST’s findings have taken place. Despite widespread speculation, NASA confirmed that no records exist of any congressional briefings—classified or unclassified—on discoveries made by the James Webb Space Telescope.

For now, it seems that the rumors about JWST discovering alien life and related briefings remain just that: rumors. As the search for life beyond Earth continues, NASA has stated on multiple occasions that while JWST is providing groundbreaking insights into the universe, no evidence has surfaced so far indicating extraterrestrial life.

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FOIA Response

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