The term Immaculate Constellation (often shortened to “ImCon”) refers to a secretive program described in a report that U.S. journalist Michael Shellenberger delivered to Congress during a joint House hearing on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) on 13 November 2024. The program has never been publicly acknowledged. Its existence has been asserted by an unidentified whistle-blower who described the program in a written report and by Shellenberger in his testimony. Officially the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) denies that any special access program (SAP) by that name has ever existed (docs.house.gov).
Source of the allegations
Whistle-blower report (Matthew Brown) – According to Shellenberger’s testimony, the whistle-blower is a current or former government official who submitted a report to Congressional committees stating that the Executive branch has managed UAP issues for decades without Congressional oversight (docs.house.gov). The report claims the DOD created a USAP (unacknowledged special access program) in 2017 called “Immaculate Constellation” (docs.house.gov). Shellenberger said the program is directed by the White House, executed by the DOD and was established after media stories about the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) to prevent public disclosure (docs.house.gov).
Shellenberger’s testimony – In his 214-page statement to Congress, Shellenberger summarized the whistle-blower’s report and claimed he spoke with several government sources who confirmed the program exists. He said the report lists seven types of evidence and details UAP encounters collected by military sensors (docs.house.gov). During the hearing he told members that current or former officials said the program is sitting on “maybe thousands” of photos, videos and other data; he emphasized that the public has only seen “fuzzy” images while the government retains clear, high-resolution footage (theguardian.com).
Alleged functions and capabilities
The whistle-blower report portrays Immaculate Constellation as a sophisticated data-collection and control system:
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Centralized collection of UAP imagery and sensor data – The report says the program acts as a parent USAP that consolidates observations of UAPs from both tasked and untasked platforms (docs.house.gov). Sensors range from infrared and forward-looking infrared to full-motion video and still photography (docs.house.gov). It allegedly integrates high-quality imagery intelligence (IMINT) and measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) (docs.house.gov).
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Wide-area sensor network – Data come from sensors positioned in low-Earth orbit, the upper atmosphere, regular aviation altitudes and maritime environments (docs.house.gov). The report describes a capability to detect, quarantine and transfer UAP collection incidents before they become visible within the broader military intelligence system, effectively enforcing compartmentalization (docs.house.gov).
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AI-driven filtering and compartmentalization – According to analyses of the report, the program uses artificial-intelligence tools to comb through classified networks for UAP-related material. It allegedly categorizes anomalies and restricts information based on personnel clearances, leaving no audit trail and making it difficult for analysts or oversight bodies to see the full picture (uaprepo.com). This gatekeeping has been described by whistle-blower supporters as a “two-faced god” that shows analysts only what their clearance allows.
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Documented incidents – The report includes examples of UAP encounters. One incident describes a group of metallic orbs surrounding an F-22 fighter jet and forcing it to leave its patrol area; one orb reportedly held a rigid position just meters from the cockpit despite evasive rolls and maneuvers (docs.house.gov). Another describes a small orange-red sphere descending over a Navy aircraft carrier without illuminating the deck, with a surface that looked like the sun (docs.house.gov). A third account references a 13-minute high-definition video from a military helicopter showing a white orb emerging from the ocean near Kuwait (docs.house.gov).
Comments and reactions
Michael Shellenberger – In addition to summarizing the report, Shellenberger told the House committee that he viewed the program as part of a long-running pattern of secrecy around UAPs. He alleged that AARO (the Pentagon’s public UAP office) and other agencies have withheld material and have overused FOIA exemptions (docs.house.gov). He warned that simply printing the program’s name could trigger surveillance under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, quoting a source who told him that speaking about the program puts one “in the danger zone” (docs.house.gov).
Nancy Mace (House Subcommittee chair) – During the November 2024 hearing, Rep. Mace asked why high-resolution data were being withheld and said that if the program or its expenditures exist, Congress must know whether money is being spent on something real or an illusion (theguardian.com).
Independent analysts – The UAPRepo site, which provides an interactive exploration of the report, notes that Immaculate Constellation appears to be a parent program controlling other Special Access Programs and that it operates without Congressional oversight (uaprepo.com). The site expresses concern that AI-driven gatekeeping could give a small cadre of officials unchecked power over information (uaprepo.com).
Skepticism from scientists – Astrophysicist Avi Loeb noted in a Popular Mechanics interview that without verifiable evidence the story remains unproven; he suggested major nations might have UAP retrieval programs but nothing in the public domain proves it, and he cautioned that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence (popularmechanics.com). Skeptics on forums like Metabunk criticized the report for making assertions without supporting documentation.
Government response
The Department of Defense has consistently denied the existence of Immaculate Constellation. In Shellenberger’s statement, DOD spokesperson Sue Gough said: “The DOD has no record, present or historical, of any type of SAP called ‘IMMACULATE CONSTELLATION’” (docs.house.gov). The All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) likewise stated in its historical report that claims of reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology are inaccurate (docs.house.gov). A Pentagon spokesperson told the Guardian that the department has not found evidence that UAP observations represent extraterrestrial activity nor any verifiable evidence to substantiate claims of secret crash-retrieval programs (theguardian.com).
FOIA requests and court actions
Public interest in the alleged program has led to formal records requests:
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A White House FOIA log from FY 2025 shows a request filed on 9 December 2024 asking for “all records that contain – ‘immaculate’, ‘immaculate constellation’”. This indicates members of the public or researchers sought documentation about the program. Another White House FOIA request from October 2024 asked for records containing the term “Immaculate” (localhost).
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Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) FOIA logs list a 2024 request (FOIPS2-00017851) from Laura Voepel seeking “records concerning the Immaculate Constellation program” (localhost). Multiple FOIA submissions suggest wide curiosity but do not confirm the program’s existence.
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A Department of Justice case summary notes that the plaintiff in Bolin v. Office of the Director of National Intelligence sought records on “Immaculate Constellation.” The court found the claim colorable, allowing the FOIA lawsuit to proceed (justice.gov). The case is ongoing.
Additional documents and coverage
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Shellenberger’s 12-page report – During the hearing Shellenberger provided a shorter report summarizing the whistle-blower’s allegations. That document is hosted on Rep. Nancy Mace’s website but has been difficult to access due to technical restrictions; however, secondary sources and Shellenberger’s testimony suggest it reiterates the points above.
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News coverage – Outlets such as Popular Mechanics, Space.com and Fox 35 Orlando reported on Shellenberger’s testimony. Articles emphasized that he presented a report alleging a secret program and that a DOD spokesperson denied any record of such a program (space.com). The Guardian recounted Shellenberger’s claim that sources told him there are “maybe thousands” of pieces of evidence, adding that he provided the committee with a report from a whistle-blower (theguardian.com). These stories typically stressed the lack of publicly verifiable proof.
Assessment
The Immaculate Constellation allegations rely on a single whistle-blower’s report and the testimony of Michael Shellenberger. The report alleges a sophisticated, AI-driven special access program that collects and quarantines high-resolution UAP data; it describes several dramatic encounters with metallic orbs and claims the program prevents that data from being seen by Congress. However:
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No official documents confirming the program have been released, and the DOD flatly denies its existence (docs.house.gov).
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The high-quality videos and sensor data described by the whistle-blower have not been made public; thus they cannot be independently validated. The only available evidence is hearsay contained in Shellenberger’s testimony and the whistle-blower’s report.
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FOIA logs and lawsuits show that private citizens and researchers are attempting to obtain records, but the requests themselves do not prove the program is real. Courts have not yet compelled disclosure.
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Scientists and skeptics argue that extraordinary claims require credible evidence; until tangible data are released, the story remains unverified speculation (popularmechanics.com).
In short, Immaculate Constellation is an alleged secret program described in whistle-blower testimony but officially denied by the U.S. government. It supposedly collects and sequesters high-quality UAP data using AI. To date there is no publicly available evidence corroborating its existence. Any claims about recovered non-human technology or exotic vehicles should be treated cautiously until verifiable documentation is produced.
