New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is pleading with President Joe Biden to get to the bottom of the mysterious drone sightings that have been taking place in the state for about a month now, claiming that potential dangers to national security and safety need to be clarified given the fact that its MetLife Stadium will host the World Cup Final in July 2026.
Murphy sent a letter to Biden on Friday, saying "growing concern about reports of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in and around New Jersey" prompted him to write. And while he highlighted some steps taken by the administration, he made it clear they have not been enough to address concerns.
"It has become apparent that more resources are needed to fully understand what is behind this activity," he wrote in another passage of the letter. "The continued reporting of UAS activity has raised more questions than answers and prompted an outcropping of conspiracy theories across social media and other platforms," Murphy added.
In consequence, he is urging the president to "continue to direct the federal agencies involved to work together until they uncover answers as to what is behind the UAS sightings."
I wrote to @POTUS to express my concerns about reports of unmanned aircraft systems in and around NJ airspace.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) December 13, 2024
Since existing laws limit the ability of state and local law enforcement to counter UAS, more federal resources are needed to understand what is behind this activity. pic.twitter.com/mkeUeW7ury
New Jersey officials have described the drones as "commercial-grade devices" and expressed alarm about potential safety dangers in contacts with the press. Eyewitness have described them as being at least 6 feet in diameter and able to go from emitting lights to no light at all and avoid detection. The sightings have been happening since mid-November and so far there is no further information on the matter.
The sightings have been dominating the national conversation and on Friday Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said he had personally seen drones above his residence in the state.
Hogan went on to say that he, like many who observed the objects, don't "know if this increasing activity over our skies is a threat to public safety or national security." "But the public is growing increasingly concerned and frustrated with the complete lack of transparency and the dismissive attitude of the federal government. The government has the ability to track these from their point of origin but has mounted a negligent response. People are rightfully clamoring for answers, but aren't getting any," the governor continued.
He was making reference to a joint statement by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, who said on Thursday that they don't have any evidence that the "reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus." The agencies added that they are monitoring the situation along with local police "but have not corroborated any of the reported visual sightings with electronic detection."
Hogan called the response "entirely unacceptable" and demanded "the federal government immediately address this issue." "The American people deserve answers and action now," he concluded.
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