Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas provided a potential explanation for the recent increase in drone sightings along the Eastern Seaboard, particularly over New Jersey, which has raised alarms among residents and lawmakers.
He mentioned on Sunday that the surge in drone sightings across New Jersey and surrounding states could be attributed to a change in regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration.
“In September 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration, known as the FAA, revised the rules allowing drones to operate at night,” Mayorkas stated during an interview on ABC News’ This Week. “This might be one of the factors leading to the heightened visibility of drones, particularly from dawn to dusk.”
The FBI has reported receiving more than 3,000 tips concerning drone sightings in recent weeks, with the majority occurring during nighttime. Users on social media platforms have begun to post videos of what they believe to be drones. Nevertheless, some of these recordings turned out to show airplanes or normal air traffic.
Despite a number of mistaken sightings, Secretary Mayorkas confirmed that “there is no doubt that drones are being spotted.” He pointed out that “thousands” of unmanned aerial vehicles are in operation across the United States every day, with “over one million drones” registered across the country.
While law enforcement has yet to pinpoint the source of the lights, the FBI and Homeland Security clarified in a joint statement on Thursday that there is “currently no evidence suggesting that the reported drone sightings represent a national security or public safety risk or have any foreign connection”—a statement Mayorkas reiterated on Sunday.
“I want to assure the American people that we in the federal government have allocated additional resources, personnel, and technology to support the New Jersey State Police in dealing with the drone sightings,” Mayorkas remarked during his appearance on the network.
Despite the reassurances, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Sunday that he had urged Mayorkas to implement a “special drone detection” system in both New Jersey and New York. Schumer indicated that the system possesses 360-degree technology, which “has a significantly better chance of detecting these drones.”
This initiative came just two days after drone activity in the vicinity caused a shut down of runways at New York Stewart International Airport for an hour.
“I’m seeking answers in light of these drone encounters,” Schumer stated. He expressed to reporters on Sunday that it was “astonishing” that “we have more questions than solutions.”
The federal response has sparked criticism and conspiracy theories, with some alleging that officials are “lying” or hiding information from the public.
“They’re deceiving us. First, they claim we’re not seeing what we are. There’s nothing to see. Then they state they have no idea what’s actually happening,” New Jersey Assemblyman Erik Peterson shared with CNN on Saturday. “They have no clue what’s going on. It’s all a fabrication.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) even suggested that the government is responsible for the drones.
“The government is controlling the drones and refuses to inform the American populace of what is occurring. It’s really that severe,” she wrote on X.
Greene’s allegations echoed those made by President-elect Donald Trump, who proposed the possibility of shooting down the enigmatic drones if necessary and hinted that the Biden administration was withholding information about the sightings.
“Mysterious drone sightings across the Country,” he posted on Truth Social. “Can this really be occurring without our government’s awareness? I don’t think so! The public deserves to know, now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!! DJT.”
However, Mayorkas explained that he does not have the authority to order the drones to be taken out of the air and called for “extended and expanded” powers to shoot down drones, beyond just those intruding on restricted military airspace.
The DHS secretary’s public request for additional resources to tackle the drone situation followed New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s announcement on Sunday that the federal government was set to deploy a sophisticated drone detection system in response to sightings in her state, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
