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Eric Burlison

US Representative for Missouri's 7th congressional district who has pressed the Department of Defense and intelligence community for answers on unidentified anomalous phenomena and appointed David Charles Grusch as a special advisor.

US Representative, Missouri's 7th congressional district

Eric Burlison is a US Representative for Missouri’s 7th congressional district who has become an active participant in congressional efforts to obtain government disclosure on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). He was among the members who travelled to USA, Florida, Eglin Air Force Base alongside Tim Burchett, Matt Gaetz, and Anna Paulina Luna to seek answers on UAP.¹ Burchett said that without Gaetz’s involvement, the group would still have been at the base trying to get answers.²

Burlison was one of several members waived onto the House Oversight Committee’s relevant subcommittee by Glenn Grothman to take part in the 2023-07-26 House Hearing on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, alongside Burchett, Luna, Gaetz, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Andrew Ogles.³ Also present at the hearing were James Comer, Nick Langworthy, and Jamie Raskin.⁴

On 2025-03-27, Burlison announced the appointment of David Charles Grusch, a former US Air Force officer, as a Special Advisor.⁵ According to the announcement, Grusch’s expertise would support Burlison’s push for transparency on UAP and related matters before the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets.⁶ Burlison said that the American people deserve answers about Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP),⁷ that Grusch had risked his career to expose critical information,⁸ and that he considered Grusch’s expertise vital to uncovering the truth about UAP and holding the government accountable.⁹ Grusch, for his part, said he was humbled to join Burlison’s team in pushing for government transparency,¹⁰ and that he intended to use his expertise to help the United States Congress hold accountable those who lied to Congress, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).¹¹

In a 2026-06-30 appearance, Burlison said he had been briefed about an event at a military installation in the Western United States where plasmoid-type phenomena were observed.¹² He said that when he asked ODNI officials what the phenomena were, they told him they did not know, and confirmed their top scientists did not know either.¹³ Burlison also distinguished the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP) from what people describe as the “Legacy Program,” saying the two are not necessarily the same thing,¹⁴ and said that the gatekeeper structure protecting the legacy program still exists today.¹⁵

Grusch has described working part-time as a professional staff member for Burlison,¹⁶ and said he attended a classified meeting with Burlison in which he challenged the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) of the United States Department of Defense (DoD).¹⁷

References (17)

Burchett, Gaetz, Luna, and Burlison visited Eglin Air Force Base to seek answers on UAP
“if it had not been for Matt Gaetz, myself, him, and Luna would still be down at Eglin Air Force Base trying to get some answers.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26, char:10500-10620 View the source record →
If not for Gaetz's involvement, the group would still be at Eglin trying to get answers
“it is not in my notes here but Matt Gaetz—if it had not been for Matt Gaetz, myself, him, and Luna would still be down at Eglin Air Force Base trying to get some answers.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26, char:10458-10620 View the source record →
Grothman waived Burchett, Luna, Gaetz, Burlison, Ocasio-Cortez, and Ogles onto the Subcommittee for the hearing
“Additionally, without objection, the following Members are waived on to the Subcommittee for the purpose of participating in today's hearing: Mr. Burchett of Tennessee, Ms. Luna of Florida, Mr. Gaetz of Florida, Mr. Burlison of Missouri, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez of New York, and Mr. Ogles of Tennessee.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26, char:5382-5668 View the source record →
Luna, Burlison, Gaetz, Burchett, Comer, Ogles, Langworthy, Raskin, and Ocasio-Cortez were present at the hearing
“Also present: Representatives Luna, Burlison, Gaetz, Burchett, Comer, Ogles, Langworthy, Raskin, and Ocasio-Cortez.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26, char:5085-5193 View the source record →
Burlison announced David Grusch as a Special Advisor
“Congressman Eric Burlison (R-MO-07) is pleased to announce David Grusch, a decorated former U.S. Air Force officer and senior civilian intelligence official, as a Special Advisor.”
Rep. Burlison Welcomes Former U.S. Air Force Officer David Grusch as Special Advisor 2025-03-27, char:131-302 View the source record →
Grusch will contribute expertise to Burlison's transparency efforts on UAP and the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets
“will contribute his expertise to Rep. Burlison's efforts to promote transparency regarding UAP and other matters on the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets”
Rep. Burlison Welcomes Former U.S. Air Force Officer David Grusch as Special Advisor 2025-03-27, char:495-661 View the source record →
Burlison said the American people deserve answers about UAP
“"The American people deserve answers about UAPs," said Rep. Burlison.”
Rep. Burlison Welcomes Former U.S. Air Force Officer David Grusch as Special Advisor 2025-03-27, char:673-735 View the source record →
Burlison said Grusch has risked his career to expose critical information
“"David Grusch has risked his career to expose critical information."”
Rep. Burlison Welcomes Former U.S. Air Force Officer David Grusch as Special Advisor 2025-03-27, char:749-803 View the source record →
Burlison said he considers Grusch's expertise vital to uncovering the truth about UAP and holding the government accountable
“"His expertise will be vital as we work to uncover the truth and hold the government accountable."”
Rep. Burlison Welcomes Former U.S. Air Force Officer David Grusch as Special Advisor 2025-03-27, char:816-900 View the source record →
Grusch said he was honoured to join Burlison's team in pushing for government transparency
“"I'm both immensely humbled and deeply honored to join Congressman Burlison and his amazing team of professionals in pushing for government transparency," said Grusch.”
Rep. Burlison Welcomes Former U.S. Air Force Officer David Grusch as Special Advisor 2025-03-27, char:1904-2066 View the source record →
Grusch said he would use his expertise to help Congress hold accountable those who lied to Congress, the ODNI, and the DOJ
“I will use all my expertise to support Rep. Burlison and help the US Congress restore full oversight while enabling the Legislative Branch's ability to investigate and hold those accountable who have broken the law and lied not only to our Congress, but also to the Executive Office of the President, Director of National Intelligence, and Department of Justice”
Rep. Burlison Welcomes Former U.S. Air Force Officer David Grusch as Special Advisor 2025-03-27, char:2214-2568 View the source record →
Burlison was briefed about plasmoid-type phenomena observed at a Western United States military installation
“when I was briefed about the event that happened recently in the Western United States, the military installation, where they saw those plasmoid type things,”
Episode 73: Science vs. Secrecy 2026-06-30, 00:16:48.6-00:16:55.5
When Burlison asked ODNI officials what the phenomena were, they said they did not know, and that their top scientists did not know either
“Sitting in that room with ODNI, I asked the question, what in the world are these things doing? And they said, we don't know. And I said, surely you have your top scientists looking into this. What do they say? They said, sir, we really don't.”
Episode 73: Science vs. Secrecy 2026-06-30, 00:16:56.9-00:17:09.1
Burlison distinguishes the AAWSAP from the legacy program, noting they are not necessarily the same thing
“Dr. Puthoff, so help me understand the difference between AAWSAP and what people describe as the legacy program, because it seems like... They aren't necessarily the same thing.”
Episode 73: Science vs. Secrecy 2026-06-30, 00:27:56.1-00:28:05.2
Burlison said the gatekeeper structure protecting the legacy program still exists today
“And this exists today. This exists today.”
Episode 73: Science vs. Secrecy 2026-06-30, 00:37:24.2-00:37:25.9
Grusch works part-time as a professional staff member for Burlison
“Obviously, I'm a professional staff member for Representative Burlison part-time”
David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 2026-08-13, 00:32:44.9-00:32:47.9
Grusch attended a classified meeting with Burlison in which he challenged AARO
“I challenged DOD arrows office last year in a meeting. I was in a in a classified meeting with Representative Burlison”
David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 2026-08-13, 00:49:01.5-00:49:07.5

Eric Burlison

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