> RECORD OBS-0346 | status: DEBUNKED | filed 2026-07-31

Majestic 12

Record	OBS-0346
Category	Extraterrestrial/UFOs
Status	DEBUNKED
Summary	Majestic 12 (MJ-12) is a purported secret committee of scientists, military leaders, and government officials allegedly formed by President Harry S. Truman in 1947 to manage the recovery and investigation of alien spacecraft, particularly the Roswell incident. The claim originates from documents that surfaced in 1984, which have been widely debunked as a hoax by the FBI and many ufologists. Despite this, the theory remains popular among some UFO conspiracy theorists.
Origin	The concept emerged in the 1980s when ufologists believed there was a cover-up of the Roswell incident. In December 1984, ufologist Jamie Shandera received anonymous documents, including the Truman-Forrestal memo and the Eisenhower Briefing Document, purportedly detailing the MJ-12 committee.
Claimed	President Truman formed a secret committee called Majestic 12 in 1947 via executive order. The committee was responsible for covering up the Roswell incident and recovering alien technology and bodies. The documents describe a cover-up of alien spacecraft crashes and the suppression of public knowledge. The committee included prominent figures like Vannevar Bush, James Forrestal, and others. The government has continued to conceal UFO information, following the precedent set by MJ-12.
Evidence / consensus	The FBI and many ufologists consider the Majestic 12 documents to be an elaborate hoax. The documents are widely regarded as fabricated, and no credible evidence supports the existence of such a committee.

> OBSERVER NOTE:
The MJ-12 documents are a classic example of a UFO conspiracy that gained traction despite being debunked. The FBI's declaration of the documents as 'completely bogus' is a key point in the consensus.

Sources

Sources are external and provided for verification. Listing does not imply the Observer endorses their claims.