There are over a million drones lawfully registered with the FAA in the United States, and on any given day, there are thousands of commercial, hobbyist, and law enforcement drones in the sky. As technology advances, we expect this number to increase over time.

In the past few weeks, the FBI has received over 5,000 reported drone sightings, with approximately 100 leads generated. The federal government is supporting state and local officials in investigating these reports. Consistent with our unique missions and authorities, we are swiftly prioritizing and following these leads. We have deployed advanced detection technology to the region and trained visual observers.

After thoroughly examining the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we have determined that the sightings include a mix of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, law enforcement drones, manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones. We have not identified any unusual activity and do not assess the current situation to pose a national security or public safety risk to civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the northeast.

However, we acknowledge the concerns expressed by many communities. We continue to provide state and local authorities with advanced detection technology and support law enforcement efforts. We urge Congress to enact counter-UAS legislation when it reconvenes, which would extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities to identify and mitigate any potential threats that may arise.

Additionally, there have been a limited number of visual sightings of drones over military facilities in New Jersey and other locations, including within restricted airspace. Such sightings near or over DoD installations are not unprecedented. The DoD takes unauthorized access to its airspace very seriously and closely coordinates with federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities, as necessary. Local commanders are actively engaged to ensure that appropriate detection and mitigation measures are in place.