5 Ways To Take Action On Drone Mystery: NJ Congresswoman

NEW JERSEY — It’s time to fight fire with fire – and drones with drones, a New Jersey congresswoman says.

Since first appearing nearly a month ago, nightly drone sightings have been reported across the state. Most of the sightings have been happening from dusk to dawn. Federal investigators say they haven’t been able to figure out where the drones are coming from, but have claimed they aren’t a threat.

Their explanations haven’t held much weight with increasingly frustrated residents and local officials, who are demanding more transparency from federal agencies such as U.S. Homeland Security and the FBI.

Several federal and state lawmakers who represent the area have also been weighing in on the controversy, including U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), who represents towns in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.

On Monday, Sherrill – a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and member of the House Armed Services Committee – released a five-part plan to locate and track the mysterious objects, whether they’re drones or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

According to Sherrill, after weeks of sightings over New Jersey, two things have become clear.

“One, the drones remain unidentified,” she said. “And, two, the people of New Jersey need clearer, more consistent communication as to what our government is learning and doing about the drones.”

“New Jerseyans' patience is getting very thin, including my own,” she said.

Here is Sherrill’s plan:

GOVERNMENT DRONES – Deploy Reaper drones and counter-UAS radars to locate and track: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) possesses a fleet of MQ-9 Reaper drones, unmanned aircraft that have the electro-optical/infra-red (EO/IR) capabilities to track targets in various environments. Where appropriate, coordinating authorities should also have the use of counter-UAS radar systems that can accurately detect drones at site of launch — whether those systems are federal-, commercial-, state, or locally operated. CBP, which is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security, would need to coordinate with non-border law enforcement to operate outside their normal area of responsibility. With that in mind, the FBI, which is currently leading the investigation into the drone incursions, should immediately and formally request the use of the required number of CBP MQ-9 Reaper drones, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, to track these UAS and identify their locations of origin. As they track the unidentified drones with the Reapers, federal partners should coordinate directly with New Jersey law enforcement agencies to respond swiftly to the drone landing locations.

SHARE INFO – Coordinate congressional information sharing: This issue crosses multiple jurisdictions — homeland security, law enforcement, the military, and the intelligence communities, just to name a few. In turn, the issue tracks across the jurisdiction of multiple congressional committees. Congress needs a unified response, which means it needs to be operating off of a unified set of information. Today, I am calling on congressional leadership to immediately convene a classified hearing with the committees of jurisdiction — including but not limited to the Committees on Homeland Security, Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services, Judiciary, and Intelligence — with leaders from the relevant federal agencies to receive a full briefing on the federal government’s response to incursions from unidentified UAS. Unclassified information from the briefing should also be promptly shared with the public.

CENTRALIZE THE RESPONSE – The interagency process, as it stands, isn’t meeting the moment. This is not the time for a lack of clarity over who holds responsibility, nor is it a time for intra-agency turf protection. It’s clear that there needs to be a coordinating agency that can knock heads together to hasten outcomes and streamline communication. There should be a clear process for local law enforcement to report sightings to be thoroughly reviewed by federal partners. So I am calling for President Biden to immediately stand up an interagency Task Force to address the challenges posed by unidentified UAS incursions — to formulate a whole-of-government approach and ensure that all information that is appropriate for the public to have is shared in a timely manner. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which has deep experience in overseeing the security of U.S. airspace and a wealth of assets and expertise in this arena, is naturally suited to lead the interagency response.

STREAMLINE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION – The lack of a unified, cohesive message from the federal government is only adding to the fear and concern that the public is feeling. Elected leaders from the congressional to municipal levels, and law enforcement agencies at the state and local levels, are receiving different information from different agencies, and lines of communication — both to report and to receive reporting — are unhelpful and unclear. Law enforcement agencies on the ground need clear guidance on how to relay the information they are receiving to federal officials with the relevant jurisdiction and clear guidance on what information can be shared with the public. In concert with the action above, I am calling for the federal government to immediately implement a clear reporting process and the means of disseminating appropriately cleared information to the public.

THINK AHEAD – It is clear from my conversations with agency leaders that the various federal actors in this space do not have sufficient resources or authorities to respond to incursions of this kind. Congress cannot grant them those resources without knowing what they need. Therefore, I am calling on the leaders of the agencies with jurisdiction over this issue to collaborate on a report to Congress that contains a detailed request for any novel legal authorities they believe they require and any new resources, financial or otherwise, they believe they require to ensure that they are fully capable of swiftly and decisively responding to UAS incursions in the future.

“I’m incredibly frustrated with the lack of coordination and communication from agencies as New Jerseyans continue to watch unidentified drones fly across our skies,” Sherrill said.

“Right now, our leaders need to be acting in accordance with a unified plan, and speaking with one voice in order to protect our national security, keep New Jerseyans safe, and ensure state and local authorities have the information and tools they need to take action,” she added.

DRONES IN NEW JERSEY

Theories about the origin of the drones have ranged from the extreme – such as U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s contested suggestion that the drones may coming from an off-shore Iranian “mothership” – to the more benign explanation that most of the sightings are just planes taking off from nearby airports. See Related: Drone Or Plane? Newark Airport In ‘Close Proximity’ To NJ Sightings

In other cases, people may be mistaking bright lights for other activities – such as filming from a movie crew. See Related: ‘Activity’ At Essex County Airport Is Filming, Not Drones, Official Says

Some of Sherrill’s peers, including U.S. Sen Cory Booker, have also been urging federal authorities to share more information with the public.

“Without transparency, I believe that rumors, fear and misinformation will continue to spread,” he recently wrote in a letter to the FBI and the U.S. departments of Homeland Security and transportation.

Republican state lawmakers have also been requesting more answers from federal authorities, a demand they say the New Jersey governor’s office needs to be more assertive about.

Other lawmakers have urged people to avoid exploiting people’s anxiety over the situation – especially for political gain.

“Spreading rumors, outright lies, conspiracy theories and engaging in political theater with partisan objectives is counterproductive to the well-being of every citizen,” New Jersey Sen. Britnee Timberlake said.

“The Pentagon has already had to waste valuable time debunking an irresponsible false conspiracy suggested by a New Jersey federal elected leader about ‘Iranian Motherships,’” she continued.

“It is important for leaders to act responsibly by only sharing facts and known knowledge to date with the community at-large,” Timberlake added. “The public— whether Democrat, Republican, independent, nonaffiliated or undecided—all depend on us for accurate information, let's provide only that. Any risk to New Jersey is a risk to us all. The safety, privacy, and wellbeing of residents is not a partisan issue.”

The FBI Newark, New Jersey State Police and New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness are asking the public to report any information related to drone sightings to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. People can also submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.

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