N.Y., N.J. senators pen letter to feds, Homeland Security, FAA requesting drone activity briefing

New York’s Staten Island — Senators from New York and New Jersey wrote to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), FBI, and Department of Homeland Security, requesting that they convene a briefing on drone activities.

The New York Sens. According to a written statement, New Jersey Sens. Andy Kim and Cory Booker, along with Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, are looking for clarification on how the agencies are collaborating with local and federal law enforcement to locate and deal with the origin of recent unmanned aerial system activity in New Jersey and New York.

Since they first appeared in New Jersey sky in mid-November, the drones have quickly spread out over Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.

Sensitive locations, such as military installations like Fort Wadsworth and Fort Hamilton and President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster Golf Club, have been observed by them.

The golf club and the Picatinny Arsenal Military Base in New Jersey are subject to FAA flight limitations, however neither Staten Island nor Brooklyn are specifically subject to any restrictions.

Together with state and local authorities, the FBI is looking into the drones, but to the chagrin of both people and elected officials, no conclusions have been reached as of yet.

A Reddit user wrote on Sunday, “I’m getting Ring videos of so many drones that are all over Staten Island.” No one is aware of what is happening. It’s incredible.

The fact that no one can determine who is operating these drones, where they are coming from, or why they are there is strange and rather strange. According to reports, some of the drones might be operating without a transponder, which raises questions about their location, Vito Fossella, the president of Staten Island Borough, stated last week.

The senators are asking for a response by December 23 for that reason.

Shortly after Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut stated that the drones should be shot down if necessary, this letter was sent.

Read the letter here:

Dear Administrator [Mike] Whitaker [of the FAA], Director [Christopher A.] Wray [of the FBI], and Secretary [Alejandro] Mayorkas [of DHS],

In light of the recent unmanned aerial system (UAS) activity that has impacted communities throughout New York and New Jersey, we write with serious concern. Given the continuous nature of these drone incidents, we ask that the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation provide us with an update as soon as possible on the ways in which your agencies are collaborating with local and federal law enforcement to locate and resolve the source of these incursions.

As you are aware, since late November, locals and local law enforcement have been alarmed by a number of reports of unattributed drone sightings in northern New Jersey and the New York City area. Residents have stated that some of these drones are bigger than other commercially accessible drone technologies, according to public reports.

Congress and the executive branch will need to take a holistic approach to safeguarding military assets and troops as well as civilian infrastructure, safety, and privacy. Because of this, we ask that you include in the briefing any authority, resources, or personnel your agency would need to deal with these ongoing occurrences and the larger security threat posed by UAS.

I appreciate you taking a look at this request. We anticipate hearing from you by December 23, 2024, at the latest.

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