Harvard's 'Alien Hunter' Avi Loeb Tapped to Lead Trump Administration's UFO Council

In a move that has both captivated and divided the scientific community, Harvard University astrophysicist Avi Loeb, known for his unconventional theories suggesting extraterrestrial technology might be visiting Earth, has been appointed to lead a new scientific advisory council for the Trump administration. This high-profile council is tasked with studying the national security risks posed by Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), often referred to as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), as part of a broader government push for transparency on these mysterious sightings. Loeb's appointment, announced on July 1, 2026, places a polarizing figure at the forefront of a sensitive issue, promising a blend of rigorous scientific inquiry and his characteristic open-mindedness regarding alien life. The decision comes amidst the Trump administration ongoing efforts to declassify government files related to UAP, culminating in the recent launch of the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE) by the Department of War. Loeb gained significant public attention in 2017 for proposing that 'Oumuamua, the first interstellar object detected passing through our solar system, could be an alien 'light sail' rather than a natural phenomenon. He later founded the Galileo Project at Harvard, dedicated to systematically searching for signs of extraterrestrial technology. Critics, including fellow astrophysicists, have questioned his methods and conclusions, with some expressing concern over his leadership of such an influential committee, citing a perceived lack of national security experience and scientific community favor. Loeb's new scientific advisory council will report to the UAP Governance Board, overseen by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and has already requested over 50 documents related to UAP incidents from the Pentagon. While Loeb states his approach will initially assume UAP are human-made, he envisions the council's work as a 'detective story' that could ultimately resolve the long-standing debate about alien existence through better data collection and scientific analysis. This initiative marks a critical juncture in how the U.S. government addresses UAP, potentially leading to unprecedented public access to information and a clearer understanding of these enigmatic aerial phenomena.