December 11, 2024
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Assemblyman Alex Sauickie left a State Police headquarters briefing Wednesday on the ongoing drone sightings in New Jersey with more questions than answers, expressing frustration over the lack of information and a coherent response plan from state authorities. “The public deserves to know that their safety is being actively protected,” said Sauickie (R-Ocean). “After sitting through that briefing, I am gravely concerned. We still don’t know who is behind these drone flights, where they are coming from, or what the state plans to do to figure it out. This level of uncertainty is unacceptable.” State Police officials provided limited details about the nature of the drone sightings, offering no clear timeline or actionable strategy for identifying the operators or mitigating future threats. Officials from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness appeared unprepared and failed to present a plan, deepening Sauickie’s concerns. “When our homeland security experts can’t provide even basic assurances about what’s happening in our airspace, it sends a chilling message about our preparedness,” Sauickie added. Sauickie, a New York City commuter on September 11, 2001, reflected on how critical intelligence failures can have devastating consequences. “I was in lower Manhattan on 9/11. I’ve seen firsthand what happens when we aren’t vigilant about emerging threats,” he said. “We cannot afford complacency when unknown aircraft are operating above our communities. New Jerseyans deserve better than vague answers and shrugged shoulders.” Sauickie called on Gov. Phil Murphy, who did not attend the briefing, to prioritize a swift and transparent investigation into the drone activities, urging federal and state agencies to work together more effectively.
“The time for vague briefings and indecisiveness is over. We need action, accountability, and real answers before something serious happens,” Sauickie concluded.
Assemblyman Alex Sauickie. Photo by Assembly Republican Office/Jennifer Peacock.
Assemblymen Clifton & Sauickie
Our Message on the Drones Over New Jersey
Today’s legislative briefing on the drone activity across our state was disappointing. The governor didn’t attend which underscored the lack of seriousness being given this matter. We take this matter seriously as we know our constituents do, and despite hoping to get answers to share with you, we left feeling that our state administration and the federal administration are not effectively communicating and do not have an organized effort to solve this mystery. The State claims they can’t do anything without federal assistance or direction, and until we know where these drones are coming from, who is operating them, and what their intent is, the federal representative from the Department of Homeland Security clearly is not treating this with the level of seriousness it deserves. Both of us will continue to fight for all of you to get the answers you deserve, and will not let up until then.
| Congressman Van Drew Sounds the Alarm on Potential National Security Threat Posed by NJ Drones |
| Washington, DC –Today, Congressman Van Drew joined Harris Faulkner on Fox News to discuss his serious concerns over the potential link of the drones flying over New Jersey to adversarial nations, such as Iran, and the urgent need to immediately take action to neutralize the threat. He also testified at a Subcommittee on Aviation hearing, where he emphasized the increasing threats posed by vulnerabilities in our airspace and expressed the need for the U.S. to advance drone detection and security technologies. |
Critical Update on the Mysterious Drone Activity
Today, I attended an in-person briefing in Ewing with representatives of the NJ State Police and the NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. While the meeting provided some insights, it also raised more alarming questions. Here are the key takeaways:
• Congressman Chris Smith from South Jersey reported drones following Coast Guard ships. The Coast Guard witnessed 50 drones flying from the ocean to land and back.
• No known credible threat, according to the NJ Office of Homeland Security, but the situation remains unresolved.
• State Police have been investigating for three weeks:
• First sighting: November 18th
• Last night: 4 sightings
• Night before: 180 sightings
• The drones:
• Fly for 6-7 hours at night.
• No RF signals, so they can’t be detected.
• Lights shut off when approached.
• No daytime sightings reported.
• State Police lack the authority to take them down—only federal agencies can act.
I asked the tough questions:
Can you confirm these drones have nothing to do with the U.S. military? They said yes.
Can you confirm these drones aren’t tied to large tech companies like Google, Amazon, or Elon Musk? They said yes.
Are you telling me that in this day and age, drones of this size can fly over us and we have no idea who they belong to, where they’re taking off from, or what their purpose is? They said we don’t know.
Adding insult to injury, Governor Phil Murphy didn’t even attend the meeting. We’re dealing with unidentified drones entering our airspace, and our state leader doesn’t show up to address it.
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the mere presence of missiles 100 miles from our shores brought us to the brink of war. Yet today, drones can hover over our neighborhoods, and we remain complacent. This generational gap in recognizing threats is alarming.
If these drones’ payloads were to change, our lives could change instantly. This is a wake-up call that we cannot afford to ignore.
We must demand answers. The safety and security of our community depend on it. If you have any information or footage, call 18664SAFENJ to report it.
— Mayor Ryan Herd
SHERIFF URGES GOVERNOR TO DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY AMID MYSTERIOUS NIGHTTIME DRONE SIGHTINGS
Monmouth County: Sheriff Shaun Golden is calling on Governor Phil Murphy to take immediate action in response to the escalating concerns regarding unidentified drones over New Jersey. He is urging the Governor to declare a State of Emergency and issue an Executive Order banning recreational drone use during nighttime hours.
“Residents are increasingly alarmed by the surge in drone activity after dark, raising concerns about public safety and security,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “We cannot wait any longer. The Governor must act now, and the Air National Guard needs to step in to protect our communities. In addition, we are asking Congress to immediately pass federal legislation for state police and sheriff’s offices nationwide which would enable them to address this issue head on.”
The proliferation of recreational drones has created a host of challenges for law enforcement and emergency response teams. Nighttime drone activity makes it difficult to identify operators and assess potential risks, including illegal surveillance, interference with critical infrastructure, and aviation hazards. Therefore, de-drone equipment must be made available at the state level.
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and partners in law enforcement need swift and decisive action from the State of New Jersey. A State of Emergency will help address these growing concerns and restore peace of mind in communities.
NJ Senate Republicans Demand Immediate Federal Action on Drone Sightings in New Jersey
“First and foremost, our top priority is the safety and security of New Jersey residents. Unfortunately, today’s briefing provided no additional clarity, leaving us frustrated and with no further information regarding these troubling incidents since they began. New Jersey State Police and local law enforcement have done an incredible job with the limited information they have, but their efforts to intervene have been severely hampered by the Federal Government’s jurisdiction over engagement with these aircraft. This restriction, along with the Biden Administration’s slow-rolled response, has fueled growing concerns and left residents to speculate the worst-case scenario as they await answers.”
“It is irresponsible for federal representatives to assert that there is no threat to public safety while simultaneously asserting they have no information about who is operating the drones, where they originate, or where they are going. This contradiction is eroding public trust and only deepens the sense of uncertainty that many of our constituents have expressed.”
“We share the frustrations of our constituents and feel the same urgency to act. That is why we are calling on Governor Murphy to demand, in the strongest terms possible, the full support of the Federal Government. He must insist that the Biden Administration immediately provide the tools and resources needed to safeguard our state—up to and including authorization to neutralize any drone that poses a threat to our residents. New Jerseyans deserve swift and effective action to ensure their safety and the security of our nation.”
