Timothy Floyd “Tim” Burchett (born August 25, 1964, in Knoxville, Tennessee) has built a political career grounded in local and state government, then moved to the national stage when he was elected to represent Tennessee’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, beginning January 3, 2019. Before that, he served in the Tennessee House (1995-1998), the Tennessee State Senate (1999-2010), and as Knox County Mayor (2010-2018). His education includes a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Though known generally for conservative policy positions and constituent service, Burchett has emerged as one of the more vocal members of Congress pushing for disclosure and transparency around unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), commonly referred to as UFOs.

Burchett introduced the UAP Transparency Act, which would mandate that all federal documents related to UAPs be declassified and made available to the public within 270 days, along with requiring quarterly reports to Congress on progress of declassification. He has publicly criticized what he characterizes as bureaucratic secrecy around government efforts and spending on UAP investigations, arguing that taxpayers “deserve to know” how their money is used. He has also asserted that dozens of millions of dollars have been spent studying these phenomena while agencies refuse to release full reports, and has questioned whether parts of government are hiding information from both the public and legislators.

Within Congress, Burchett has aligned himself with bipartisan colleagues in recent UAP hearings. He has called for the creation of a confidential reporting system for pilots and military personnel who observe UAPs, and pushed for investigations into whistleblower claims—most notably those made by David Grusch—that the government possesses nonhuman craft or materials. Burchett has expressed belief that some government departments have “recovery units” and declassified material, yet refuse to share findings. He indicates that public disclosure is not about sensationalism, but accountability—and that Americans are capable of handling the truth.

Burchett’s legislative committee assignments reinforce how he channels his interests in transparency and oversight. He serves on the House Oversight Committee (including subcommittees focused on government efficiency and operations) and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, positions which provide structural leverage to demand agency disclosures and ask tough oversight questions. These roles give him access and influence over departmental reporting and defense-related inquiries, which are central to UAP disclosure work.

His advocacy has drawn both praise and criticism: supporters commend him for pushing back against entrenched institutional opacity and bringing UAP issues into the mainstream; skeptics caution that some of the claims—such as alleged recovered nonhuman craft—remain unverified and are rooted in whistleblower reports that agencies still dispute. Burchett’s position remains that government transparency should be the default and that cost, classified technology, or security concerns should not be used to restrict oversight without strong justification.

Burchett’s work on UAP matters matters not because he claims to have all the answers, but because he is helping shift the culture of inquiry. By introducing legislation, demanding declassified records, and publicly challenging agencies to justify secrecy, he has put pressure on institutions to treat UAPs not as fringe curiosities, but as policy questions that implicate national security, taxpayer dollars, and public accountability.