For weeks, an unsettling buzz has hovered over the skies of New Jersey and beyond—drones. Or are they? On Monday, the White House broke its silence, offering the clearest statement yet on the phenomenon that has sparked confusion, conspiracy, and concern across the Northeast.
“We assess that the sightings to date include a mix of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and even stars that were mistakenly reported as drones,” said John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson.
Also read: Drones Fear Shutdown Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
His tone was measured, but the message was clear: there’s no sign of anything out of the ordinary, let alone threatening. “We have not identified anything anomalous or any national security or public safety risk over civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states,” Kirby assured. “The work continues.”
A Growing Whirlwind
The saga began about a month ago when mysterious objects—lights glinting, shapes darting—were spotted over New Jersey. Since then, reports have spread like wildfire, with residents in states as far as Florida and California claiming to see similar aerial oddities. Federal agencies, local authorities, and a nation of sky-watchers are now united by one question: What’s up there?
The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have poured water on any panic. In a joint statement last week, they said there’s no indication the drones pose a national security threat or have foreign links. But they were quick to point out that the sightings expose a troubling reality: existing laws aren’t fully equipped to handle this kind of aerial activity.
Enter the Voices of Power
Former President Donald Trump, never one to miss a moment, waded into the storm, accusing the Biden administration—without evidence—of hiding something. “Something strange is going on,” Trump declared Monday from Mar-a-Lago. “For some reason, they don’t want to tell the people.”
Closer to the ground, the responses have been more practical.
- Rep. Mikie Sherrill: “Our leaders need a unified plan to protect national security, keep New Jerseyans safe, and ensure our authorities have the tools they need.”
- Rep. Josh Gottheimer: “New Jersey cannot become the wild west for drone activity. Americans shouldn’t have to glance nervously at the sky.”
- Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, steady as ever, added: “There’s no question people are seeing drones. We have mobilized resources to assist New Jersey State Police in handling this.”
Sky-Watchers, Stand Down
Meanwhile, authorities have turned their focus downward, warning the public against taking matters into their own hands.
A joint statement from the FBI and New Jersey State Police revealed a troubling spike in incidents where pilots of manned aircraft were hit by lasers from the ground. “People mistakenly believe they’re targeting drones,” the statement read. “But shooting at what seems to be a drone could have deadly consequences if it’s actually a manned aircraft.”
The Road Ahead
So, what now? Investigators continue to comb through reports, technology at the ready, while the public is urged to stay calm. Are they drones, stars, or something stranger? The answers may still be weeks away, but for now, one thing is certain: everyone is looking up.
