President Donald Trump stated there is “not much of a connection” between several missing or deceased scientists and workers tied to advanced research fields, downplaying theories of a broader pattern.
The cases have drawn attention from lawmakers, government agencies, and the public in recent weeks. Trump’s comments appear designed to temper speculation that has grown despite officials having not confirmed direct links between the incidents.
What Trump Said
“There are thousands or even hundreds of thousands of scientists working for us, so 10 is a lot, but it’s still a very small number compared to that,” Trump told reporters. He noted that some cases involved illness, natural causes, and suicide, adding “we’re finding that there’s not much of a connection.”
The president’s latest remarks contrast with his earlier statements this month when he called the situation “pretty serious stuff” and referenced “very important people” involved. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had previously indicated the federal government would investigate the cases.
The Investigation
The FBI and NASA have both launched investigations into the matter. The House Oversight Committee requested information from federal agencies on Monday regarding deaths and disappearances of at least 11 researchers with connections to NASA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin.
Committee Chairman James Comer and Rep. Eric Burlison sent letters to senior officials requesting staff-level briefings by April 27, according to reporting.
The Cases
Since 2022, at least 13 people connected to nuclear and space research have died or gone missing. Four individuals-Monica Reza, 60; Melissa Casias, 53; Anthony Chavez, 79; and Steven Garcia, 48-disappeared between 2023 and 2026 under circumstances considered suspicious.
Seven others died between 2022 and 2026: Michael David Hicks, 59; Frank Maiwald, 61; Nuno Loureiro, 47; Jason Thomas, 45; Amy Eskridge, 34; Carl Grillmair, 47; and Joshua LeBlanc, 29.
The cases began gaining public attention after retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland went missing earlier this year. McCasland formerly oversaw the Air Force Research Laboratory and had ties to Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Calls for Answers
Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., has pushed for transparency about the deaths. “Every adversary on the planet celebrates each one we lose,” he posted on X. “We are weaker as a nation today because of these losses.”
Burlison said he asked the FBI directly about the death of Matthew Sullivan, a former Air Force intelligence officer and Bronze Star recipient who worked for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, the NSA, and the Air Force Intelligence Agency. The FBI would neither confirm nor deny opening an investigation, he stated.