US President Donald Trump has directed federal authorities to launch a full-scale investigation into the deaths and unexplained disappearances of no fewer than 10 American scientists and researchers connected to sensitive aerospace, defence, and unidentified aerial phenomena programmes.
According to officials, the president received a briefing earlier in the week on the incidents, some of which reportedly date back to mid-2023.
The White House disclosed that it is collaborating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies to determine whether there are any links among the cases.
“These are serious matters,” Trump said, noting that several of those involved were “very important people.”
As reported by the Economic Times on Sunday, Trump added that more information is expected to emerge in the coming days and expressed hope that the cases are unrelated.
A member of the House Oversight Committee, Eric Burlison, has raised concerns over what he described as a troubling pattern, saying the incidents appear “too coincidental” to ignore.
Burlison is pushing for a thorough probe, suggesting that the scientists’ access to classified materials including studies tied to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), commonly referred to as UFOs could be significant.
Reports indicate that while some of the individuals died under suspicious or violent circumstances, others disappeared without any trace.
One of the cases involves Michael David Hicks, a physicist with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory known for his work on comets and asteroids, who died in July 2023. Details surrounding his death were not made public.
Other incidents include the killing of a nuclear physicist based in Massachusetts, as well as the disappearance of researchers and contractors linked to institutions such as Los Alamos National Laboratory and NASA facilities.
In another case, a scientist declared missing in late 2025 was later discovered dead months after his disappearance.
Burlison also referenced the case of a senior Air Force official who allegedly tried to reach him over research related to UAPs before going missing earlier this year.
Although authorities have yet to establish any direct connection among the incidents, Burlison has speculated about possible involvement by foreign actors, including China, Russia, or Iran.
Officials, however, have not confirmed such claims.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is undertaking a “holistic review” of all reported cases to uncover any shared elements.
“No stone will be unturned,” she said, adding that updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
The cases have attracted significant attention due to the prominence of the individuals involved and the sensitive nature of their work.
For now, authorities maintain that investigations are still at an early stage, with no firm conclusions on whether the incidents are connected.
Trump orders probe into mysterious deaths, disappearances of 10 US scientists