Intelligence officials insist there is nothing nefarious about the drone invasion that has devastated New Jersey residents in a three-hour classified briefing.
The CIA, FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Defense Department met with members of the House Intelligence Committee Tuesday evening about the unidentified aircraft reported in multiple states.
It has been claimed that the planes are not the work of a secret government operation, and it was said that there appears to be no rationale behind the phenomenon.
Many of the more than 5,000 reported drone sightings are just planes, helicopters or hobby drones operating legally, the officials told members of Congress: according to Fox News.
“There is no clear threat coming from any quarter,” Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said after the hearing.
Rep. Jim Hines, a Democrat from Connecticut, also claimed, “There is no evidence that anyone here has acted unlawfully or that any of these drones, that authorities know of, are associated with malicious intent.
“I don’t think we have any reason to believe that they are hiding information,” he added. “And again we asked an extraordinarily detailed set of questions to 28 people in three hours.”
Even President Joe Biden tried to assure the public that there was no reason to fear the drones.
President Joe Biden sought to assure the public there was no reason to fear the mysterious drones that have appeared in the eastern United States
The FBI has received more than 5,000 drone sightings, many of which officials say are just planes, helicopters or hobby drones operating legally
He told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that there is “apparently nothing nefarious” about the drones. NBC News reports.
“We are monitoring it closely,” he added. “No sense of danger so far.”
The comments echo those of a joint statement released Monday by the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, FAA and Defense Department, as well as those from White House National Security spokesman John Kirby.
Still, 56-year-old U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain and New Jersey resident Paul Sprieser has said he doesn’t believe all the sightings can be explained by commercial aircraft or other sanctioned activity.
“A large percentage of them are not commercial aircraft, like these stationary objects in the sky, the size of an SUV, hanging out there for five, six hours, seven hours,” Sprieser told DailyMail.com.
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It is possible that the drones are the result of a 2018 defense contract to develop and test counter-terrorism drones.
The Defense Department may deny claims about third-party technologies if the drones are placed on a secure contract release technology list, which means the government applies special restrictions on the information.
The restrictions are added when technologies protect national security or to keep advanced systems hidden from enemy countries, and the developer is primarily liable if the government fails to operate the drones, retired CIA intelligence officer Rudy Ridolfi explained to DailyMail.com.
He noted that the Federal Aviation Administration issued an air restriction alert on Nov. 21, banning flights over the Picatinny base for “special safety reasons” through Dec. 26.
“This message from the FAA shows that US drone testing is taking place in the area. It is a warning to others to stay away from the area during these dates,” Ridolfi said.
“Although the nature of the tests has not been specified, it most likely involves testing payloads related to exploration.”
This image from a video shows drones flying over Randolph, New Jersey on December 4, 2024.
On December 7, a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain was alerted to a UAP flying near his home in North Bergen, NJ, by a device that can “detect changes in magnetic fields or electromagnetic radiation.”
The drone sightings began in mid-November when drones were spotted over the US Army’s Picatinny Arsenal and President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster – both in New Jersey.
In the weeks that followed, similar drones were reported across the state, especially in and around Morris County, and have since spread to other states in the region.
State and local officials now are put pressure on the federal government to take action because government agencies will lose their authority to combat drones without reauthorization from Congress’ Federal Aviation Administration.
Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican and outspoken critic of the Biden administration’s response to these observations, told Fox News that he plans to introduce legislation as early as this week that would allow state police to investigate drone threats better approach, including tracking the drones. and take them down.
He said he sees the bill as a “very real expansion of a capability that is needed now” in the U.S. defense space.
“There is more vulnerability here that everyone is willing to accept, but we must take action – decisive action.”
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, also said Congress “needs to work in a bipartisan manner to close some of the gaps in the law when it comes to who can operate drones, how and how do you disable or interact with drones to? in incorrect airspace.’
The Federal Aviation Administration issued an air restriction alert on November 21, banning flights over the Picatinny base for “special safety reasons” through December 26.
Monmouth County is home to the Naval Weapons Station Earle, a naval base. Experts have speculated that foreign powers could target areas like this, where intelligence and weapons bases are located. (Pictured: NJ landmarks where drones have been spotted overhead)
Still, he insisted he was “satisfied” with the answers he received at the briefing, but said the government must do more to address the public’s concerns.
“The public needs to see for themselves what these administration officials concluded and what technology was used,” the congressman said.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul also previously said she will “do whatever it takes to ensure New Yorkers stay safe,” in a post on X.
“New York is investigating these incidents, but the federal government must give us the authority to deal directly with the drones,” she added.