NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman confirmed that the space agency has captured images of objects that cannot be explained as natural phenomena. Isaacman stated in a recent interview that while these images do not constitute definitive proof of alien life, he believes it is highly probable that extraterrestrial life exists throughout the universe.
"We have captured imagery, and this is what President Trump is very forward-leaning about, that based on the data that we have within that imagery, we don't know what it is," Isaacman told podcast host Jack Gordon. He added, "I think there's a very real possibility we're going to arrive at a conclusion in our lifetime that perhaps there's life everywhere out there and that it isn't as infrequent as we might think it to possibly be."
Isaacman, who assumed leadership of NASA in December 2025, clarified that he has not personally encountered evidence of crashed UFOs or recovered alien bodies. NASA, the White House, and the Pentagon have consistently stated that no such physical proof exists. However, Isaacman suggested that potential evidence might currently be on Mars, within samples collected by the Perseverance rover. NASA had previously announced the discovery of ancient microbial life on Mars in September, but the mission to retrieve those samples was suspended due to funding issues.
These remarks follow President Donald Trump's directive to declassify all files related to UFOs. While thousands of pages of records have been released as part of the Pentagon's disclosure efforts, none have provided conclusive evidence of extraterrestrial life. Isaacman was appointed to lead NASA shortly before Congress approved a budget, supported by President Trump, prioritizing a manned mission to Mars by the end of the decade. He noted that the subject of UFOs has become a central focus of NASA's renewed efforts in space exploration.
"I can't hate the subject. In fact, I'm incredibly fascinated about it because that is at the heart of what we're trying to do at NASA - answer the question, are we alone?" Isaacman stated. Despite his conviction about the likelihood of widespread life, Isaacman pushed back on the idea that human space exploration constitutes an "invasion" of other worlds. "These [questions] will be revealed by generations long after we are gone, but, simply put, I do not believe it is our destiny to remain on one planet," he declared.
The interview did not directly address past allegations from former NASA employees and scientists who have claimed that evidence of extraterrestrial life was discovered and subsequently covered up. These claims include those from astronaut Edgar Mitchell and former NASA contractor Donna Hare. The agency also faced scrutiny over images of the interstellar object 3i/ATLAS, which NASA characterized as a comet despite some experts suggesting it showed signs of intelligent design.
Regarding skepticism about the moon landings, Isaacman acknowledged the low quality of historical footage. He indicated that upcoming Artemis lunar missions will feature high-definition cameras on all landing modules and rovers to provide clear evidence of human activity on the Moon.