Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) criticized President Joe Biden and the Pentagon after U.S. fighter jets reportedly shot down several unidentified objects, including one over Lake Huron during the weekend. Gallagher called it potentially “one of the most staggering intelligence failures since 9/11” and demanded transparency, stating that “the American people deserve to know what’s going on in the skies above their homes.”
The incident follows the downing of a Chinese spy balloon on February 4 and the subsequent discovery of additional objects violating U.S. airspace. Gallagher called for urgent congressional oversight to answer questions about the objects’ origins and purpose. The U.S. government has not yet identified the objects publicly.
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) issued a strongly worded statement on Monday, slamming President Joe Biden and the Pentagon over recent incidents involving unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in American airspace. Gallagher, who serves as the top Republican on the House Armed Services Military Personnel Committee, described the incidents as “potentially one of the most staggering intelligence failures since 9/11” and demanded answers from the Biden administration.
Gallagher’s statement came in response to reports that U.S. fighter jets had shot down several UAPs (unidentified aerial phenomena) over the past several days, including one over Lake Huron during the weekend. The objects were described as “octagonal” with “strings” hanging from them. Gallagher demanded to know where these UAPs were coming from, what their purpose was, and whether they were related to Chinese espionage programs.
The shooting down of the UAPs follows the downing of a Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean on February 4. The discovery of the rogue balloon, which was equipped with advanced surveillance technology, prompted the U.S. Department of Defense to confirm that the vessel had breached U.S. airspace. After public pressure mounted, the Pentagon confirmed that an American F-22 fighter aircraft had shot down the balloon over the waters off of South Carolina.
Gallagher, who was recently selected by Speaker McCarthy to serve as Chairman of the Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, has been a vocal critic of the CCP and its aggressive actions. He has warned that the U.S. could lose the new “Cold War” facing America and has called for a bipartisan “pushback against the Chinese Communist Party’s aggression.”
The recent incidents involving UAPs in American airspace are likely to reignite criticism of the Biden administration for its inability to detect and prevent them, as well as its lack of transparency with the public.
Gallagher argued that “when our fighter pilots are shooting down presumably hostile aerial objects all across America, it’s long past time for transparency” and insisted that “the American people deserve to know what’s going on in the skies above their homes.”
Background
- U.S. fighter jets shot down several UAPs, including one over Lake Huron during the weekend.
- A Chinese spy balloon was downed on February 4, and additional objects violated U.S. airspace.
- The objects have not been identified publicly.
Gallagher’s statement
- Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party’s aggression, criticized President Biden and the Pentagon over recent UAP incidents.
- He described the incidents as potentially “one of the most staggering intelligence failures since 9/11.”
- Gallagher demanded answers from the Biden administration regarding the origin, purpose, and relation to the Chinese espionage programs of the UAPs.
- He argued that the American people deserve to know what is happening in the skies above their homes.
- Gallagher called for urgent congressional oversight to answer questions about the UAP incidents.
Conclusion
- The incidents involving UAPs are likely to reignite criticism of the Biden administration’s ability to detect and prevent them and lack of transparency with the public.
- Gallagher emphasized the need for answers and transparency in the face of a potentially significant intelligence failure.