Vermont Proposal Would Create 10‑Member UAP Task Force to Standardize Reporting and Bolster Airspace Safety

Vermont lawmakers are advancing a proposal to create a state-level framework for investigating reports of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), reflecting a growing recognition that airspace safety and data transparency require more consistent reporting and analysis. The measure would establish a 10‑member task force with a mandate to centralize observations, standardize submissions from the public and agencies, and provide evidence-based recommendations on policy and safety.

The initiative positions Vermont to participate more directly in a national debate that has oscillated between secrecy and selective disclosure. Supporters frame the state as a fitting test bed, citing multiple sources that place Vermont among the highest per-capita locations for reported anomalous sightings. Their central argument is practical: regardless of ultimate explanations, unidentified objects—whether unconventional craft, misidentified drones, balloons, or other systems—pose potential hazards to civilian and military airspace and merit methodical investigation.

The bill’s structure emphasizes operational clarity. As outlined, the task force would be co‑chaired by the Department of Public Safety and transportation leadership, ensuring direct linkage to aviation oversight and emergency management. Its remit extends beyond the skies to include unidentified aerospace and underwater objects, coordination with federal partners and academic researchers, and the production of public-facing recommendations. Proponents describe the body as a single intake and analysis point to prevent fragmented reporting and to enable pattern recognition across disparate incidents.

Testimony from experienced operators is planned to anchor deliberations. Former Navy pilot Ryan Graves has offered to brief lawmakers, alongside a retired rear admiral and former Pentagon official Christopher Mellon. Their participation would bring operational and policy perspectives to questions of sensor reliability, incident documentation, and data stewardship. The discussion also raises concerns that significant UAP-related data may reside with private defense contractors rather than in transparent government repositories—a point supporters say strengthens the case for state-level data collection standards and public reporting.

Stigma remains a recognized obstacle. Backers argue that skepticism should be directed toward building better evidence, not dismissing reports outright. They contend that a transparent process—triaging sightings, isolating explainable cases, and flagging credible anomalies—can improve public trust and support measured policy responses. The approach aligns with an airspace safety agenda that includes documented East Coast drone incursions, the 2023 high-altitude balloon incident, and routine encounters near sensitive facilities. Vermont’s geography—a border with Canada and proximity to a major air base—adds urgency to creating clear protocols.

Next steps center on legislative process. The House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs has conducted an initial walkthrough of the bill, and advocates are seeking a second hearing with witnesses over the next one to two months. Supporters present the effort as among the first of its kind at the state level, designed to complement federal initiatives while giving local authorities timely, standardized information. If adopted, the task force would provide a durable mechanism to distinguish ordinary from anomalous events, strengthening both public transparency and airspace security.