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Claim origin · GN-07

An unacknowledged special access program, “Immaculate Constellation,” exists that collects imagery and data on UAP without informing Congress.

Circular sources

First attestation
Oct 2024 · Michael Shellenberger (anonymous source), The outlet Public and an interview with NewsNation. Circulates the account of an anonymous informant about a secret program created in 2017, after the New York Times articles on AATIP, and run without congressional oversight. The DoD replies that it has no record, present or past, of any special access program by that name.
Who picked it up
  1. Nov 13, 2024 · Michael Shellenberger: At the hearing he presents the 12-page report, which Nancy Mace has entered into the record; he adds that after his article another source described to him a video of a UAP. Based on documents (source given: The anonymous report and a new unnamed source, which concerns a video and not the program)
  2. Nov 13, 2024 · Matthew Brown: The report claims that the program arose after Elizondo's disclosure of AATIP and AAWSAP in 2017, that internal documents confirm Elizondo's claims and that several independent informants have provided evidence to Congress. Based on documents (source given: Non-public executive branch data consulted while in service; no document attached)
  3. Nov 13, 2024 · Luis Elizondo: Asked whether he had been admitted to the program, he answers that he is not authorized to confirm or deny the existence of any program. Opinion or hypothesis (source given: None)
  4. Apr 29, 2025 · Matthew Brown: On the Weaponized podcast of Jeremy Corbell and George Knapp he presents himself as the author of the report and says he found, while in service, a presentation with Elizondo's face and a sheet that linked the program to the disclosure of AATIP. Based on documents (source given: A slide presentation seen while in service, not produced; he says he was never admitted to the program)
Analysis
Everything goes back to a single source, the anonymous report later claimed by Matthew Brown: Shellenberger circulates it, Nancy Mace enters it into the record, Weaponized presents the author and Liberation Times relaunches it (edges matthew-brown → michael-shellenberger “source,” jeremy-corbell → matthew-brown and george-knapp → matthew-brown “interview,” eric-burlison → matthew-brown “guarantor”). The content refers back to Elizondo, identified as the cause of the program's birth and described as confirmed by internal documents, while Elizondo at the hearing neither confirms nor denies (matthew-brown → luis-elizondo “cites”): it is a circular link, even though Brown does not belong to the AAWSAP circle described by AARO. Brown says he saw a slide presentation and was not admitted to the program; the document has not been produced and the only additional source cited by Shellenberger concerns a video. The DoD's denial is limited to the name (no special access program by that name on record) and does not exclude activities under other names; to verify it, the original slides, corroboration from the intelligence committees or witnesses with access to the program would be needed.

Sources

  1. Straight Arrow News, “Immaculate Constellation” and the DoD's denial (October 9, 2024) (press)
  2. Official transcript of the November 13, 2024 House hearing (GovInfo, CHRG-118hhrg57440) (primary source)
  3. “Immaculate Constellation” report entered into the record on November 13, 2024 (HHRG-118-GO06-20241113-SD003) (primary source, pro-disclosure)
  4. Liberation Times, Matthew Brown presents himself as the author of the report (April 29, 2025) (press, pro-disclosure)

On this site

People 3

Official positions 1

Documents 2

Timeline 3

Open in the interactive archive The whole section: Where the claims come from

UAPgrade's entries are compiled with artificial intelligence (three verifiers with opposing roles) and checked against the sources listed above: how we work. Have a document that changes this entry? Bring it to the Investigations Unit.