What Tim Burchett has said about Unidentified flying objects and government disclosure

Burchett doubts the government will make meaningful UFO disclosure, arguing the subject has been covered up since at least 1947.

“this thing's been covered up at least since 1947. And I just don't think they're going to – they don't give up that easy”

The Joe Rogan Experience: #2495 - Tim Burchett (May 7, 2026) · Listen from 0:59

Burchett says military pilots who report sightings are pulled from flying, given psych evaluations and interrogation-like debriefings.

“you immediately pulled off the flight line. I'm not a pilot or military person, but flight line. is what I call it. They're not able to fly and they're given a psych evaluation”

The Joe Rogan Experience: #2495 - Tim Burchett (May 7, 2026) · Listen from 7:35

Burchett says he was told of underwater craft moving over 200 mph and as large as a football field, far beyond U.S. capabilities.

“we've seen craft underwater that do something over 200 miles an hour that are on the sonar pickup or as big as a dadgum football field”

The Joe Rogan Experience: #2495 - Tim Burchett (May 7, 2026) · Listen from 12:55

Burchett believes recovered UFO material was given to major defense contractors that are beyond the reach of FOIA.

“I think that whatever they had, they gave to them early on, and they're the ones. But they're so far disconnected from the government that I can't touch it”

The Joe Rogan Experience: #2495 - Tim Burchett (May 7, 2026) · Listen from 20:51

Burchett suggests disappearances of scientists around the time of disclosure efforts serve as warnings to others, likening it to roughing up busboys.

“you rough up a few of the busboys, and that sends a quick dadgum message that you need to shut your mouth”

The Joe Rogan Experience: #2495 - Tim Burchett (May 7, 2026) · Listen from 18:38

Burchett says a federal employee told him the president is on a need-to-know basis regarding UFO information.

“he said, the president's on a need-to-know basis. Now, that's a federal employee saying that he or she has— information that the president is not allowed to see”

The Joe Rogan Experience: #2495 - Tim Burchett (May 7, 2026) · Listen from 2:23:41

Burchett rejects the rationale that disclosure would harm society, saying the public should decide.

“I don't doubt what he's saying. I know all those guys”

The Joe Rogan Experience: #2495 - Tim Burchett (May 7, 2026) · Listen from 2:25:44

Burchett frames the issue as a budget question about what the government is spending tens of millions on.

“It's not about Little Green Man. It's not about flying saucers. It's what are we spending this money on if they say they don't exist?”

The Joe Rogan Experience: #2495 - Tim Burchett (May 7, 2026) · Listen from 2:21:13