In a claim that has stunned even seasoned UFO researchers, a former intelligence insider has stepped forward with what he says is direct knowledge of the United States government’s decades-long awareness of not just one — but four distinct alien species. The whistleblower, who testified under oath to members of Congress earlier this year, has now given his most detailed public account yet, describing the creatures’ appearance, behaviors, and alleged interactions with humans. His revelations have sparked a tidal wave of debate, with some calling it the biggest leak in the history of the UFO phenomenon, and others dismissing it as elaborate fiction.
The man at the center of the storm is David Grusch, a decorated Air Force veteran who spent years as part of the Pentagon’s Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Task Force. In an interview with Newsweek, Grusch claimed that top-secret programs have cataloged four alien “archetypes” — a classification he says was based on recovered biological specimens and decades of intelligence gathering. “This isn’t about belief anymore,” he told reporters. “It’s about evidence that has been hidden in plain sight.”
According to Grusch, the first type is what popular culture has long called “The Greys” — short, humanoid beings with large black eyes and delicate frames. He claims these are the most frequently encountered species in government files, often linked to famous crash retrieval cases. “They appear highly intelligent, extremely telepathic, and disinterested in human affairs beyond observation,” he said, describing them as “scientists, not conquerors.”
Former intelligence officer David Grusch says the U.S. has known about multiple alien species for decades. This isn’t science fiction — it’s sworn testimony. #UFODisclosure— UFO Watch (@UFO_Watch) August 9, 2025
The second type, which Grusch calls “The Insectoids,” are described as towering beings resembling a cross between a mantis and a human. He claims these entities are rare but feared by some in the intelligence community due to alleged reports of human abductions tied to their presence. Their language, he says, is a series of rapid clicks and pulses, but they have been observed using advanced translation devices during supposed contact events. “There’s an unsettling intelligence to them,” he told The Guardian. “They look at you in a way that makes you feel like prey.”
The third group, which he labels “The Nordics,” allegedly resemble tall, human-like figures with pale skin and striking blue eyes. According to Grusch, these beings are “deeply concerned” with Earth’s environmental future and have been in limited contact with certain world leaders. He referenced a 2009 UN meeting where, he claims, their warnings about climate change were quietly dismissed. “They are not gods, but they seem invested in our survival,” he said, noting that their technology appears centuries ahead of ours.
The final category is the most mysterious: “The Unknowns.” Grusch says these entities defy classification, with forms and abilities so alien that even seasoned researchers struggle to describe them. Some appear as shimmering, amorphous shapes; others manifest only in certain wavelengths of light. He claims these may be interdimensional rather than extraterrestrial in origin, referencing declassified CIA documents that mention “transient lifeforms” detected in high-energy experiments. “If the first three species challenge our understanding of biology, these ones challenge our understanding of reality,” he said in a Politico interview.
Grusch’s testimony about “The Unknowns” is the most chilling. Not space aliens — something stranger. Something that bends the rules of our universe. #UAP— Leslie Kean (@lesliekean) August 9, 2025
Reactions to these claims have been sharply divided. Skeptics point out that Grusch has yet to produce physical evidence publicly, and that much of what he describes is based on classified reports inaccessible to independent verification. “Without hard proof, these stories remain extraordinary claims requiring extraordinary evidence,” said astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson in an interview with CNN. Still, even Tyson conceded that the surge in credible military UFO sightings in recent years demands investigation.
Others argue that Grusch’s track record and security clearances lend him more credibility than past UFO storytellers. Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, before his death, openly urged the public to take whistleblowers seriously, telling The New York Times in 2021 that “there’s a lot we don’t know — and a lot we aren’t being told.” The fact that multiple other former intelligence officials have echoed Grusch’s claims about crash retrieval programs has only fueled speculation.
Some of Grusch’s descriptions align eerily with decades of civilian reports. Thousands of witnesses worldwide have described encounters with beings matching the “Grey” and “Insectoid” archetypes, often during alleged abductions or sightings near UFOs. A 1994 case in Zimbabwe, documented in BBC archives, involved schoolchildren who reported telepathic messages from tall, human-like figures warning about environmental destruction — a detail that resonates with Grusch’s “Nordic” narrative.
Hearing Grusch talk about “Nordics” immediately reminded me of the Zimbabwe Ariel School incident. The parallels are eerie. #UFOs— UFO Joe (@UFOJoe11) August 9, 2025
The Pentagon has neither confirmed nor denied the existence of these four species. In a statement to Axios, a Department of Defense spokesperson said only that the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office “takes all whistleblower testimony seriously and continues to investigate credible UAP-related claims.” That ambiguity has done little to calm public fascination — or fear.
Within hours of Grusch’s interview being published, hashtags like #AlienDisclosure and #TheyAreHere trended on social media. UFO researcher and filmmaker Jeremy Corbell posted that he had spoken privately with individuals who could “corroborate aspects” of Grusch’s account, though he stressed that hard evidence remains elusive. “We’re closer than ever to a breaking point,” Corbell said on his YouTube channel. “And when that point comes, humanity will have to decide how to respond.”
The possibility that multiple alien species are not only real but known to governments raises profound questions — about secrecy, about human history, and about our place in the cosmos. If even part of what Grusch claims is true, it would mean that some of the most important truths in human history have been deliberately hidden from the public for generations.
For now, the whistleblower says he’s prepared for the backlash and understands why many will doubt him. “I don’t expect everyone to believe me,” he told Reuters. “But I’ve sworn under oath. I’ve risked my career and my safety. I just want the truth to come out — for everyone.”