The Trump administration has directed FBI employees in Washington, D.C., and New York to immediately search for and compile all records pertaining to Amelia Earhart’s disappearance, according to law enforcement sources. This unprecedented order, issued during an ongoing federal government shutdown, mandates a rapid response with a deadline set for Wednesday, underscoring the high priority placed on this request from the Executive Office of the President.
Employees in the FBI’s field offices received a message flagged with high importance late Tuesday, instructing them to scour workstations and digital media for any documents related to Earhart, including both open and closed cases. The directive specifies that the search should cover physical papers and electronic records, emphasizing the urgency of the task. This move comes as the federal government enters its seventh day of a shutdown, adding strain to FBI operations and raising questions about resource allocation amid broader political tensions.
Amelia Earhart, a pioneering aviator who broke numerous records, including being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, disappeared in 1937 while attempting to circumnavigate the globe. Her plane vanished over the Pacific Ocean, and she was declared lost at sea after an extensive 16-day search. Earhart’s fate has captivated public imagination for nearly nine decades, spawning countless conspiracy theories and ongoing investigations into one of aviation’s greatest mysteries.
President Donald Trump last month announced on Truth Social that he was directing his administration to ‘declassify and release all government records’ related to Earhart, citing the enduring public fascination with her story. This latest order appears to be a direct follow-up to that pledge, accelerating the process by tasking the FBI with locating relevant documents. Trump has a history of ordering the release of documents on high-profile cases, such as the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., often in response to public interest and conspiracy theories.
The timing of this directive, amid a government shutdown that has furloughed many federal employees or left them working without pay, could impact the FBI’s ability to fulfill other law enforcement duties. Critics may view it as a distraction from more pressing issues, while supporters argue it aligns with transparency efforts and addresses historical curiosities. The order’s focus on specific field offices in D.C. and New York suggests a targeted approach, possibly to streamline the search in areas with extensive archival holdings.
Previous releases of Earhart-related documents by the FBI and National Archives have provided some insights, but a comprehensive search could uncover new details or corroborate existing theories about her disappearance. The U.S. government has long suspected that Earhart and her navigator crashed into the Pacific due to fuel exhaustion, but alternative hypotheses, such as capture or landing on a remote island, persist. This effort may help clarify the official stance and potentially debunk or validate long-held beliefs.
As the Wednesday deadline approaches, the FBI’s findings will be closely monitored by historians, aviation enthusiasts, and the public. If significant records are identified and declassified, it could reignite debate and shed light on a chapter of history that has remained opaque for generations. The outcome may also influence how future administrations handle similar declassification requests, balancing historical transparency with operational security and resource constraints in a polarized political environment.
