Johnson urges Biden administration to address New Jersey drone sightings: 'People are not satisfied with the explanations'

On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., criticized the Biden-Harris administration's response to recent drone sightings in New Jersey, stating that federal authorities have not provided Congress with clear answers regarding their origin.

In a Planet Chronicle interview, Johnson stated that the White House and the U.S. government appear unconcerned about the increased sightings in New Jersey and other Northeastern states.

Johnson, the speaker of the House, stated that he shares the same frustrations as everyone else and that they don't have the answers. He added that the administration is not providing them.

Johnson stated that he arranged a meeting with officials from the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI, but the answers he sought were not provided.

Johnson questioned, "If it's not foreign entities, no vessel offshore, and no data collection, then what is it?"

"Johnson stated that he is not convinced by Mayorkas' explanation for the increase in drone sightings, as he was impeached by the House and is not trusted by many. He emphasized the need for the administration to provide answers and protect Americans, their intelligence, and data. Johnson assured that they will continue to investigate the matter until they have the necessary information."

According to Johnson, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated on ABC News on Monday that thousands of drones are flown daily in the U.S. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) changed the rules in September 2023, allowing drones to fly at night, which may be contributing to the increase in drone sightings, particularly during dawn and dusk.

Mayorkas emphasized the importance of Congress granting more powers to state and local agencies to manage drone activity, all under federal oversight.

On Tuesday, President Biden stated at the White House that there was "nothing nefarious" about the drones and that there had been "no sense of danger" so far. Johnson responded to these remarks.

"Johnson stated that the return of Donald J. Trump to the White House is necessary to provide steady leadership and strong command. He would have already provided answers and delivered them to the American people and Congress. Johnson emphasized the importance of leadership and how it led to Trump's mandate. He added that the American people are eagerly waiting for the America First agenda to begin, and so are we."

Officials confirmed Monday evening that the reported drone sightings were legal commercial drones, hobbyist drones, law enforcement drones, manned aircraft, helicopters, and even stars. The assessment was made based on technical data and tips.

On Tuesday, during a private meeting of the House Intelligence Committee, federal law enforcement and intelligence officials were questioned about drones, according to Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn.

Himes stated that authorities informed the panel that there is still no evidence of public safety or national security threats.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy stated on Monday that the drone-detection equipment provided by the federal government has not provided much new information. He refused to disclose the specifics of the equipment, except to say that it was potent and could potentially disable the drones, although this is illegal on U.S. soil. Murphy urged Congress to grant states greater autonomy in managing drones.

The FBI and New Jersey state police issued a warning against aiming lasers at suspected drones, as aircraft pilots are increasingly being hit in the eyes. Additionally, authorities expressed concern that people may mistakenly fire weapons at manned aircraft they believe to be drones.

Officials believe that the reported drone sightings in the northeast were lawfully flown drones, planes, or stars, and the federal government has not identified any public safety or national security risks associated with them, according to White House national security spokesman John Kirby, who made the statement on Monday.

"The Federal Aviation Administration in the United States has more than 1 million lawfully registered drones, with thousands of commercial, hobbyist, and law enforcement drones flying daily. This is the ecosystem that we must address."

The federal government is investigating reports in New Jersey and other states, and is evaluating each tip provided by citizens, according to him.

Recently, over 100 of the more than 5,000 drone sightings reported to the FBI were deemed credible enough to warrant further investigation, as stated in a joint statement by DHS, FBI, FAA, and the Department of Defense.

There have been concerns online that the drones could be linked to a malicious plan by foreign powers.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, stated that it is unlikely that the drones are being used for intelligence gathering due to their loud and bright nature. He repeated this on Tuesday, confirming that the drones being reported are not being operated by the Department of Defense. When asked about the possibility of military contractors operating drones in the New Jersey area, Ryder denied it, stating that there are no military operations or drone experiments taking place in that corridor.

Drone-detecting technology is being moved to some military installations, including the Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey, where drones have been reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.