As sightings of mysterious drones continue to stir concerns in New Jersey and nearby regions, the federal government is shipping specialized radar systems to the state to bolster investigation efforts. According to Gothamist, this move comes in the wake of calls from local officials for greater transparency and action from federal agencies including the FBI.
New Jersey lawmakers, facing a growing unease among constituents over the presence of these drones, have heightened their push for a more robust response. Assemblymembers have welcomed the radar technology, hoping it will address the perceived security "gap in potential security vulnerabilities," as Assemblymember Roy Freiman put it, and mayors from 21 towns have expressed their concern in a letter to Governor Phil Murphy. Murphy has maintained that there is no immediate risk to the public; however, he acknowledged frustration over the lack of concrete information about the drones, “The last thing we need is fearmongering out of some members of Congress," he said to WNYC, as reported by Gothamist.
Further, federal lawmakers have not remained silent on the matter. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker has called for more detailed updates to inform the public, urging federal agencies to alleviate the uncertainty gripping the state. Interestingly, Representative Jeff Van Drew suggested to Fox News that these drones, whose origins remain unidentified, could pose a threat to national security and has argued that they should be shot down.
The peculiarity and size of the drones have intrigued local government officials and aviation hobbyists alike. Described as having a span up to 6 feet in diameter and capable of flying for over two hours, these unmanned aerial systems (UAS) elude conventional tracking methods, said Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia. "We know nothing. PERIOD. To state that there is no known or credible threat is incredibly misleading," Fantasia articulated in a statement shared by WTNH. Homeland Security may also join the investigation as the situation continues to unfold.
This series of events has most certainly placed drone activity and legislation at the forefront of federal priorities, attracting legislative efforts such as Rep. Josh Gottheimer's proposal to increase funding for local law enforcement's radar capabilities and the Drone Act which sets out to federally criminalize illegal drone operations. The situation is dynamic, and with more sophisticated equipment en route, authorities hope to obtain the answers that the public anxiously awaits.
