A senior FBI official testified to Congress on Tuesday that the bureau is completely flummoxed by suspected drones flying over New Jersey that have yet to be identified, causing a stir among residents and prompting officials to demand answers.
The FBI and other agencies are investigating a growing number of sightings, including near the Picatinny Arsenal military research center and President-elect Donald Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, which have been happening for weeks now.
WATCH: @RepPfluger asked CBP, FBI, & DOJ witnesses what we’re all wondering—”What is going on in New Jersey?” pic.twitter.com/mCaF9dN1EZ
— House Homeland GOP (@HomelandGOP) December 10, 2024
“What is going on in New Jersey?” House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) asked Robert Wheeler Jr., the FBI’s assistant director of the Critical Incident Response Group, during a hearing on Capitol Hill.
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Wheeler said the FBI is “actively investigating” the “unexplained sighting of drone activity” over New Jersey, including “proximity to sensitive sights and areas of concern,” and stressed investigators “do not attribute that to an individual or group yet.”
Pfluger asked if there are “nefarious intentions” that could lead to a national security or public safety incident that could put Americans at risk. Wheeler replied, “There is nothing that is known that would lead me to say that. And that’s the concerning part.”
RELATED: Authorities Taking Mysterious UFO Sightings In New Jersey ‘Deadly Seriously,’ Governor Says
Noting that there have been other “incidents,” including last year when “unknown drones” were flying over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, Pfluger then asked “why can’t we take action” against drones flying over sensitive sites.
“Authority exists to mitigate a UAS in flight when authorized, and that could certainly apply to a sensitive site,” Wheeler said, using the acronym for unmanned aircraft systems. He also suggested it would be a decision for the Department of Defense.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) shared that a Coast Guard officer said a 47-foot boat “was followed by between 12 and 30 of these drones as they went through the water.” The lawmaker said he wants to know why drones are not shot down over water.
Actual Jersey Shore:
A Commanding Officer in New Jersey Coast Guard told Rep. Chris Smith his 47-foot ship “was followed by between 12 and 30 of these drones as they went through the water — followed, right behind them,” Smith told FBI, DOJ & CBP officials today. https://t.co/gnQRacslgc pic.twitter.com/avbizOtblL
— Matt Laslo (@MattLaslo) December 10, 2024
Wheeler testified alongside Keith Jones, the deputy executive assistant commissioner of Air and Marine Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security Brad Wiegmann.
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) also pressed Wheeler, saying, “You’re telling me we don’t know what the hell these drones are in New Jersey. Is that correct? ” After Wheeler responded with, “That’s right,” Gonzales declared, “That’s crazy. … That’s madness that we don’t know what these drones are.”
Suspected drones or UAS have also been spotted in the vicinity of Staten Island and Brooklyn, where there is a power plant, Coast Guard base, and military installation, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) said during the hearing.
Today, I joined @HomelandGOP demanding answers from the FBI and its partner agencies regarding the unidentified drones and unmanned aircrafts flying over NY & NJ, as well as the lack of action taken by these agencies to intervene. I will continue to press them to get answers &… pic.twitter.com/ufjTMf86B3
— Office of Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (@RepMalliotakis) December 10, 2024
Picking up on Wheeler saying officials do not know of any threats, Malliotakis asked him if there is “still a possibility” of there being one. Wheeler said “yes” to the question. He also said he did not know whether the sightings could be related to tests of security technologies for emergency responders.
Watch the full hearing below:
