New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has expressed increasing concern regarding the recent surge in mysterious drone sightings across the state, calling on President Joe Biden to take charge of the investigation into these unidentified aerial phenomena. Following numerous reports of large drones flying over various counties since mid-November, Murphy’s frustration has grown, especially after Pentagon and FBI officials dismissed potential links to military activity or foreign threats. In a letter to the White House, Murphy emphasized the need for federal agencies to collaborate and allocate more resources to uncover the driving forces behind these unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) sightings, which have been frequent over sensitive infrastructure including military installations and civilian facilities.
Despite heightened alarms among local officials regarding these drone activities, federal responses have downplayed the incidents. The FAA has imposed no-fly restrictions over specific military facilities; however, the White House’s assertions, particularly those from National Security spokesman John Kirby, suggest that many of these sightings may involve manned aircraft rather than drones as initially reported. Kirby maintained that no immediate national security threat has been identified and emphasized that imagery from the events did not conclusively demonstrate drone activity. This assertion encountered skepticism from state officials and prompted calls for more thorough investigations into the matter.
The public and political sentiment has shifted toward frustration, with many leaders demanding accountability from federal authorities who they feel have not taken these incidents seriously. New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew is among those expressing concerns, suggesting that the drone appearances could potentially tie back to foreign adversaries, thereby posing a security risk. Meanwhile, state senators, including Andy Kim, have captured video evidence of the drone clusters behaving erratically, which has fueled skepticism about the federal government’s conclusions dismissing drone activity as benign.
Incidents involving unidentified drones are not confined to New Jersey; similar occurrences have been reported in other regions, including incidents of drone sightings over military sites in Europe. The recent surge of reports has not only drawn the attention of New Jersey residents, but has also alarmed citizens in neighboring states. Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan described witnessing what appeared to be a large number of drones hovering over his property, expressing concern over the government’s lack of transparency and ineffective handling of the situation, advocating for immediate actions to address public fears.
Despite officials in New York maintaining that there is no evidence of security threats from these drones, there is a palpable sense of unease among some Republican lawmakers who are demanding more rigorous responses from federal agencies. They argue that if similar reports were to arise in sensitive locations such as the U.S. Capitol or the White House, a more aggressive investigation would be launched, and question why the same urgency has not been applied to the drone sightings over their jurisdictions.
The charged atmosphere surrounding these unexplained drone sightings comes against a backdrop of broader public concern regarding safety and transparency. Many citizens and political leaders believe that the federal response has been inadequate, with some likening the government’s current message to a dismissive “don’t believe what you see.” As local and state representatives continue to seek answers, the demand for a concerted effort to fully understand the source and implications of these drone sightings grows, fueled by a mix of frustration, scientific curiosity, and urgent calls for accountability from federal authorities.
