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After weeks of fear and bewilderment over drones flying over parts of New York and New Jersey, elected officials are urging action to identify and stop the mysterious flights.
“A lot of people are pretty frustrated right now,” Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on “Fox News Sunday.”
“‘I don’t know’ is not a sufficient answer,” he said.
National security officials said the drones did not appear to be a sign of foreign interference or a threat to public safety. But leaders of both political parties cannot say for sure who is to blame for the sudden swarm of drones over New Jersey, New York and other parts of the eastern United States, or how they can be stopped. are increasing their demands. Better technology and power to deal with drones.
Sen. Chuck Schumer on Sunday called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to implement better drone tracking technology to identify drones and their operators.
“New Yorkers have a lot of questions about this,” Senate Majority Leader Schumer told reporters about the drone sightings. “We’re going to get answers for them.”
The federal government answered few questions during a media briefing Sunday morning. “There’s no question that people are seeing drones,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. “But I want to assure the American people that we are working on it. We are working closely with state and local governments.”
Some of the drones reported over parts of New York and New Jersey turned out to be “manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones,” Mayorkas said. “We have not heard of any foreign involvement regarding the sightings in the Northeast, and we are looking into this matter closely.”
Last year, federal aviation regulations began requiring certain drones to broadcast remote identification information, including the location of their pilots. It’s unclear whether that information was used to identify the person behind the drone attacks over New York and New Jersey. Mayorkas’ office did not respond to questions about whether the feature could be used to identify the drone.
Mr. Schumer is calling on the federal government to allow recently declassified radio technology to be used in New York and New Jersey. Radio detectors can be attached to drones and airplanes to determine whether another flying object is a bird or a drone, read its electronic registration, and track it to its landing site. Schumer said state and local authorities do not have the authority to track drones.
On Sunday, New York Gov. Cathy Hochul said federal authorities were sending a drone detection system to the state.
“This system will assist state and federal law enforcement in their investigations,” Hochul said in a statement. The governor did not immediately provide additional details, including where the system would be implemented.
Last month, dozens of mysterious night flights began flying over parts of New Jersey, raising concerns among residents and authorities. Part of the concern stems from the fact that the flying object was initially spotted near Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. Drone use for recreational and commercial purposes is legal in New Jersey, but is subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified.
Drones are currently being reported across the northern East Coast, with suspicious sightings in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia, according to news reports.
Some U.S. political leaders, including Mr. Trump, have called for stronger action against these drones, including shooting them down.
Mayorkas said Sunday that certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security have the authority to “neutralize” drones. “But we need to expand those powers,” he said.
A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would strengthen the powers of some federal agencies and give local and state agencies new abilities to track drones. It also plans to launch a pilot program that would allow state and local governments to intercept, disable or seize drones without the operator’s prior consent.
Rep. Mike Walz (R-Florida), who was nominated by President Trump as his next candidate, said, “The drone issue points out the disparities within our nation’s government agencies, between the Department of Homeland Security, local police, and the Department of Defense.” It’s a disparity in authority.” “Americans find it hard to believe that we can’t understand where these things are coming from,” the national security adviser said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
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Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut.
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