Members of Congress Speak Out on ‘Unknown Drones’

Quadcopter drones fly over the New York skyline on Aug. 5, 2016. (KENA BETANCUR/Getty Images)

NEWSMAX | Published December 11, 2024

Members of Congress are talking about “unknown drones” that have been seen flying around the New York and New Jersey skies over the last few weeks.

Fox News senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram wrote on X about a conversation he had with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., regarding the situation, before a hearing focused on the drones:

“Pergram: It seems as though Members from both sides are not getting answers about these drones or whatever they’re seeing in New Jersey and Staten Island. There’s a hearing focusing on this today. What is the level of concern? Do you think the government is being straight? And Members can’t even get answers on this.

Johnson: We’re working on that. We need straight answers of course. We are concerned about drones and all of these new technologies and what it might mean for national security and the safety of the American citizen. I’m looking forward to the outcome of that hearing. And if we don’t get the necessary answers there, we’ll dig deeper and go to the classified level.

Pergram: Any thought that these might be “dark” programs?

Johnson: I hope not. I do not believe so. But there’s a lot of investigation going on. So we’ll find out.”

Other members of Congress have also spoken out about the drones.

“Last December, a fleet of drones swarmed Langley Air Force Base next to my district, and now, more drones are swarming sites along the East Coast. This is a serious threat to public safety and national security — we’ve got to invest in our nation’s counter-drone programs if we want to deter adversaries from gathering information on Americans,” Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., vice chair of the Armed Services Committee, wrote on X on Tuesday.

“My office has been in communication with Governor Murphy’s office and our federal agency partners. While the drones currently pose no known threat to the public, my team and I will continue to monitor the situation closely,” Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., wrote.

“Repeated incidents involving unknown drones over American airspace must be addressed. That is why I am leading a charge to update DOD’s authorities to detect and stop these drones when they are over military facilities,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., wrote.

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SOURCE: www.newsmax.com

RELATED: Congress Sounds Off On ‘Unknown Drones’ Flying Over New Jersey And New York

“This is a serious threat to public safety and national security,” said one lawmaker.

THE DAILY WIRE | Published December 11, 2024

Members of Congress are speaking out on “unknown drones” that have been spotted by residents zipping around in the skies of New Jersey and New York over the past few weeks.

These sightings have prompted investigations, Federal Aviation Administration flight restrictions, and demands for more transparency about what is happening.

Fox News senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram posted to X on Tuesday about an exchange he had with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) about the situation ahead of a drone-focused hearing:

Pergram: It seems as though Members from both sides are not getting answers about these drones or whatever they’re seeing in New Jersey and Staten Island. There’s a hearing focusing on this today. What is the level of concern? Do you think the government is being straight? And Members can’t even get answers on this.

Johnson: We’re working on that. We need straight answers of course. We are concerned about drones and all of these new technologies and what it might mean for national security and the safety of the American citizen. I’m looking forward to the outcome of that hearing. And if we don’t get the necessary answers there, we’ll dig deeper and go to the classified level.