BURSTReports of drone sightings in New Jersey and New York have sparked increasing intrigue and, on Friday, more calls for transparency about what is known.
The drones were first spotted last month, with the majority of sightings in Hunterdon and Morris counties in New Jersey.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been monitoring the events for the last 10 days and is investigating the sightings.
In a joint statement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday, the FBI reiterated that the agency has no reason to believe that the drones pose a national security or public safety threat or have a "foreign nexus."
Here's what to know about the drone sightings.
Lawmakers spot drones
Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) reported seeing drones in New Jersey and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan reported a sighting in New York on Thursday night.
Kim was out with local law enforcement to try to catch a sighting with his own eyes.
“It’s hard for people to feel secure when there are unexplained drones flying overhead and they’re not getting answers they need from the federal investigation,” Kim said in a press release issued Friday morning.
Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia said from four to 180 aircraft have been reported to authorities since Nov. 18, appearing from dusk till 11 p.m., the Associated Press reported.
The flying objects have been spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, N.J., AP added.
Drones have also been spotted in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region.
Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and FAA regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified, AP reported.
Officials call for federal agencies to do more
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) on Friday morning called on federal agencies, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, to authorize state and local authorities to “safely take down drones” after sightings in the state. He added he is expecting classified briefings from the FBI, DHS and FAA next week.
Kim also sent a letter to federal agencies, alongside Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), requesting support from Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration and FBI.
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella held a briefing Friday afternoon, during which he called on the New York Police Department to do more investigation into the drone sightings. He expressed frustration at the lack of information from state and federal agencies as to where the drones are coming from.
“This is 2024. They’re either lying, they’re incompetent, or both,” he added.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) joined the briefing as well, asking for agencies to be “straight” with the people of New York and New Jersey to ease anxiety and fear.
“The best way to address is to just be honest and express to the American people what is going on,” she said.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) also wrote to the FAA, FBI, Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security on Friday, asking for a briefing on an increase in drone sightings over New England.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has received a classified briefing on the drone sightings, according to Kellie Meyer, Washington Correspondent at NewsNation.
State response
Local officials, including Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden, urged Gov. Phil Murphy (D) to declare a state of emergency.
On Friday, Murphy released a letter, sent Thursday and addressed to President Biden, on X asking for more resources and details from federal agencies on the sightings.
"New Jersey residents deserve more concrete information about these UAS sightings and what is causing them," he wrote.
White House briefing met with criticism
White House national security communications adviser John Kirby gave a briefing on the unidentified drones on Thursday, telling reporters there was no evidence of a national security or public safety threat from the drone sightings. He also said that it appeared as if that many of the reported sightings are manned aircraft being operated lawfully and there had been no reported drone sightings in restricted areas.
Kirby’s relaxed response was met with backlash from New Jersey lawmakers, with New Jersey Assemblymember Brian Bergen (R) calling Kirby an “idiot” and New Jersey Mayor Sam Morris of Mine Hill township calling the comments “ridiculous.”