Asa Reports: New Jersey First State To Fund Uap Research Center
On January 12, 2026, New Jersey became the first state to allocate dedicated funding for university-based research into Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) by passing Assembly Bill 5712, signed by Governor Phil Murphy. The legislation appropriates $3.5 million in addition to $2 million from the FY2026 budget to support two aviation safety programs: a UAP Research Center receiving $2.5 million annually to fund New Jersey public universities in establishing centers focused on UAP studies, and an Air Traffic Controller Loan Redemption Program allocating $1 million to offer student loan forgiveness for eligible air traffic controllers working with the FAA, addressing workforce shortages. Eligible universities must participate or plan to participate in the federal Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative, with preference given to institutions in the state's most populous counties. Americans for Safe Aerospace (ASA) strongly supported the legislation, highlighting the importance of legitimizing UAP research and reducing professional stigma that impedes reporting and scientific inquiry. ASA offers technical consultation, data access, and coordination assistance for universities pursuing grants and encourages other states to replicate New Jersey’s model to build a distributed network of UAP research centers enhancing national research capacity and transparency. Implementation requires the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education to release grant applications within 120 days of the law's effective date, with ASA monitoring progress and ready to support similar legislative efforts elsewhere.
Source: thewowsignal.news
