What's happened
Reports of unidentified drones over New Jersey and New York have prompted state officials to request federal assistance. Homeland Security and FBI officials are investigating the sightings, which have raised safety concerns but are believed to involve crewed aircraft rather than malicious activity. Calls for legislative action are growing.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Axios, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has urged the federal government to deploy advanced drone detection technology, stating, "If the technology exists for a drone to make it up into the sky, there certainly is technology that can track the craft with precision." Meanwhile, Business Insider UK reports that DHS officials have acknowledged limitations in their current response capabilities, urging Congress to pass legislation that would enhance their authority to manage drone threats. The ongoing investigations reflect a growing concern among state officials about the safety implications of these unidentified aircraft, with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy expressing frustration over the lack of federal transparency. As reported by Axios, the White House maintains that the drones are likely not a public safety threat, but the uncertainty surrounding their origins continues to fuel calls for action from local leaders.
How we got here
The drone sightings began in mid-November, primarily in New Jersey, and have since spread to New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. State officials have expressed concerns over the drones' proximity to military installations and critical infrastructure, prompting investigations and requests for federal resources.
More on these topics
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New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware River and Pennsylvania;
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Philip Dunton Murphy is an American financier, diplomat and politician serving as the 56th Governor of New Jersey since January 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, he defeated then Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno in the 2017 gubernatorial election.
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate
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Richard L. Blumenthal is an American attorney and politician who has served as a United States Senator from Connecticut since 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
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Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state located in the Northeastern, Great Lakes, Appalachian, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The Appalachian Mountains run through its middle.
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Connecticut is the southernmost state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. As of the 2010 Census, it has the highest per-capita income, Human Development Index, and median household income in the United States.
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency.
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New York is a state in the Northeastern United States. New York was one of the original thirteen colonies that formed the United States. With more than 19 million residents in 2019, it is the fourth-most-populous state.