Person

Michael Shellenberger

Founder of the outlet Public; witness at the November 13, 2024 hearing

2023– · Media · Journalist

A journalist and founder of the outlet Public, in October 2024 he circulated the anonymous report on “Immaculate Constellation,” an alleged secret Pentagon program to collect UAP data, the authorship of which was later claimed in 2025 by Matthew Brown. On November 13, 2024 he testified before the House together with Elizondo, Tim Gallaudet and Michael Gold. In September 2023 Public had reported at least 30 other whistleblowers who reportedly testified in support of Grusch.

Key claims

• Maintains, on the basis of an anonymous report, that an unacknowledged program (“Immaculate Constellation”) exists that collects UAP imagery without congressional oversight.

Controversies

• The DoD stated that it has no record of any special access program called “Immaculate Constellation”; no independent confirmation of the report has emerged.

Documented authority

It measures how documented and verifiable what the person claims is, not their honesty. Each criterion is scored from 0 to 2.

Credentials 2/2

His role as founder of Public and as a witness before the House is documented.

Direct access not applicable

He relays a third-party report; he does not claim direct knowledge of the program.

Evidence provided 1/2

He made the text of the report available to Congress, but not independent corroboration of the program described.

Claims track record not applicable

The sources consulted do not trace the outcome of any verifiable claims made by this person.

Conflicts of interest not applicable

The sources consulted do not document financial interests tied to the topic.

Sources

1. NPR, November 13, 2024 (press)
2. Straight Arrow News, October 9, 2024: “Immaculate Constellation” (press)
3. The Black Vault: archive of the November 13, 2024 hearing (analysis)
4. Metabunk: discussion of “Immaculate Constellation” (analysis, skeptical)
5. WLT Report, September 27, 2023: Public and the 30 whistleblowers (aggregator) (other, pro-disclosure)

On this site

Official positions 1

• Pentagon (Department of Defense) (2024): Responding to NewsNation, the Pentagon stated that it had no record, present or past, of…

Documents 2

• The transcript of the November 13, 2024 House hearing with Elizondo, Gallaudet, Shellenberger and Gold Original available
• The 12-page report on “Immaculate Constellation” entered into the House record Authenticity not established

Where the claims come from 1

• An unacknowledged special access program, “Immaculate Constellation,” exists that collects imagery and data…

Timeline 3

• Sep 27, 2023: Public reports at least 30 other whistleblowers backing Grusch
• Oct 2024: Shellenberger reveals “Immaculate Constellation”; the DoD: no SAP by that name
• Nov 13, 2024: Elizondo testifies under oath: yes to secret retrieval programs

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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.