Overview

• President Donald Trump announced the directive on Sept. 26 in a post on his social media account.
• The records concern Earhart’s 1937 disappearance over the South Pacific during a round‑the‑world attempt toward Howland Island.
• The U.S. Navy deployed carriers and other vessels in the search, and al JapaneJapanese Navy ships assisted, but no wreckage or remains were found.
• The prevailing view holds that Earhart likely ran out of fuel and crashed into the ocean, though unproven claims of Japanese involvement have persisted.
• Trump framed the disclosure as serving enduring public interest and has previously advanced releases of historical files such as the JFK assassination records.