78% of Americans think the government is withholding UFO information
A Gallup poll reported by Scientific American found that 78% of Americans believe officials know more about UFOs than they disclose. That does not mean most respondents believe UAP are alien craft: 37% said some probably are, while 49% said all sightings have human or natural explanations.
The figures come from a public opinion poll published in August 2026. They measure beliefs and trust, not physical evidence about UAP.
A poll cannot establish what caused any specific sighting or whether the government actually possesses undisclosed evidence.
What the poll says
The strongest result concerns trust: 78% said officials know more than they tell the public, up from 71% in 1996. The share of respondents who were unsure about the origin of UAP also increased to 13%.
What it does not prove
Public opinion is not a scientific finding and does not verify claims of extraterrestrial craft. The results describe institutional distrust and the effect that incomplete government releases can have on public perceptions.