As more sightings are being reported in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, requests for a more robust federal response are growing in response to the hundreds of unexplained drone sightings in New Jersey.
This is absurd. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., stated during a press conference on Friday in Staten Island that “our government is not telling us who is operating them and for what purpose.” There are thousands of drones and unmanned aerial systems flying over us.
The United States of America, with its military prowess, is not ignorant of these objects, in my opinion. Additionally, Malliotakis stated, “I’m asking, and we’re all asking, that you just be honest with us and tell us what’s going on.”
The White House stated Wednesday that the FBI, state and local law enforcement agencies, and the Department of Homeland Security had not been able to confirm any of the alleged visual sightings, despite growing fears from a growing bipartisan chorus of political leaders.
The U.S. Secret Service acknowledged in a statement to NBC News that it does not currently have any unmanned aircraft systems in or around New York or New Jersey.
Although she is aware that New Yorkers have seen drones this week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated in a post on XFriday that there is currently no proof that these drones represent a threat to national security or public safety.
The remarks coincide with the growing worries about privacy and safety following the scores of on-camera sightings that have been documented in New Jersey. A senior person briefed on the drone sightings told NBC News that 79 sightings were recorded overnight in New Jersey alone.
According to multiple New Jersey agencies, the sightings, which can happen up to 180 times every night, have been regular for about a month.
‘Response is entirely unacceptable’
In a post on X Friday, former Republican Governor of Maryland Larry Hogan claimed to have seen dozens of large drones flying over his house. He also said that Homeland Security, the FBI, the military, and the White House are all unaware of what the drones are, where they are from, who launched or controls them, and that they are not a threat.
Hogan wrote, “That response is completely unacceptable.” I join the increasing number of leaders from both parties who are calling on the federal government to take prompt action on this issue. The American people are entitled to immediate action and answers.
There aren’t any unmanned aerial systems in or near New Jersey or New York right now, the U.S. Secret Service said in a statement to NBC News.
In letters to President Joe Biden, Senators Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell, Representative Mike Johnson, and Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey urged Congress to act.
Murphy stated that he hopes to persuade Congress to enact laws that would enable state and local law enforcement agencies to combat UAS by utilizing cutting-edge detection and mitigation technologies.
On Friday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, sent a letter to the Department of Defense, DHS, FBI, and FAA asking for a briefing on drone activities by December 18.
I’m writing to say how deeply concerned I am about the growing number of drone reports in the New England region. Some of the busiest and most intricate airspaces in the nation are located in these states, as you are aware,” Blumenthal wrote.
Calls for flight restrictions, no-fly zones
Following the initial reported sighting on Staten Island, Malliotakis and Vito Fosella, the Borough President of Staten Island, said they contacted the FAA last week.
Malliotakis expressed her displeasure with the uniform reaction she received when she petitioned the FAA to impose aircraft limits.
“What the hell is going on?” Fossella questioned Friday, adding that the people of this city, state, and region need answers.
In addition to allegations of drone activity over military bases in New Jersey, Malliotakis expressed her alarm after seeing drones flying over a Coast Guard base on Staten Island.
A senior official briefed on the drone sightings told NBC News that officials think previously reported sightings above the Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County and the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster were indeed drones, based on an ongoing investigation.
In a statement released Friday, a representative from Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck, New Jersey, acknowledged the recent allegations of drone sightings throughout the state and stated they were working with state and federal agencies.
“We can confirm multiple instances of unidentified drones entering the airspace above Naval Weapons Station Earle, even though no direct threats to the installation have been identified,” the statement read.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Michael Ghassali, the mayor of Montvale, New Jersey, claimed that the reaction to the sightings was now turning into a whole farce.
Ghassali stated that because the federal government has not responded to the situation in Montvale, he is declaring an emergency and establishing a drone-free zone.
“My phone didn’t stop with drone sightings messages yesterday, and the feds can’t control the air space,” he claimed.
‘Hobbyists’ or ‘weapons of war’?
Along with Sens. Gillibrand, Schumer, and Booker, Sen. Andy Kim, D-NJ, issued a letter to the FBI, DHS, and FAA on Thursday, requesting that the agencies hold a briefing on their responses to the drones. He described drones he saw in New Jersey in a thread he made on X Friday.
According to Kim, police officials informed him that they observe drones every night, but that if they get close with helicopters, the drones will be dark and switch off their lights.
Kim said, “We need details on what those efforts have yielded and if more resources are needed.” The Homeland Security Secretary gave a briefing last week on the new technologies they were deploying. We should be aware of what is being done even if they haven’t completely identified the devices yet.
In an appearance with MSNBC on Thursday, Gillibrand stated that officials must pose extremely serious inquiries regarding the devices’ intended purpose and design. Concerns over undiscovered capabilities are raised by the fact that commercial-grade drones are significantly bigger and more advanced than amateur ones.
According to Gillibrand, we shouldn’t view things the same way we would a balloon or a kite. Unmanned aerial systems, or drones, have been employed as weapons of mass destruction all around the world.
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