The Trump administration confirmed [1] on April 17 that it is working with the FBI to investigate the deaths and disappearances of ten U.S. scientists and government employees who had access to nuclear or aerospace material.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the review comes amid growing questions about a series of cases involving individuals connected to highly classified work.
“In light of the recent and legitimate questions about these troubling cases, and President [Donald] Trump’s commitment to the truth, the White House is actively working with all relevant agencies and the FBI to holistically review all of the cases together and identify any potential commonalities that may exist,” Leavitt wrote in a post on X Friday afternoon.
Leavitt said the review would examine each case collectively to determine whether any connections exist among the incidents.
“No stone will be unturned in this effort, and the White House will provide updates when we have them,” Leavitt said.
The announcement followed remarks from President Donald Trump on April 16, when he said the administration would look into whether the cases are related.
The individuals involved had worked on sensitive government projects, including nuclear and aerospace programs.
“I hope it’s random, but we’re going to know in the next week and a half,” Trump told reporters on April 16, adding “I just left a meeting on that subject.”
Among the individuals identified in the investigation is retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William “Neil” McCasland, who was reported missing on Feb. 27, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico.
McCasland, 68, previously served as head of research at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and later held positions at the Pentagon, including director of space acquisition in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force and director of special programs in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.
Authorities said McCasland’s wife last saw him at their Albuquerque-area home at approximately 10:00 a.m., when he was interacting with a repairman.
She left for a medical appointment at 11:10 a.m. and returned shortly after noon, at which point he was gone.
Investigators said McCasland did not take his phone, prescription glasses, or wearable devices.
However, they reported that his hiking boots, wallet, and a .38 caliber revolver with a leather holster were missing from the home.
Another individual included in the cases is Monica Reza Jacinto, a rocket scientist who had worked with McCasland.
Jacinto was last seen on June 22, 2025, while hiking in the Angeles National Forest.
The investigation also includes the death of California Institute of Technology astrophysicist Carl Grillmair.
Grillmair, who worked on missions connected to the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, was shot and killed outside his home on Feb. 16, 2026.
Officials have not released additional details about possible connections between the cases.
The White House said the ongoing review will involve coordination with federal agencies to determine whether any patterns or links can be established among the incidents.
The administration has not provided a timeline for when findings will be made public beyond the initial comments from President Trump indicating that more information could be available within weeks.