Gottheimer Provides Update on Drone Activity After Classified Briefing

Continues to urge FBI and DHS to publicly brief, without delay

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, December 18, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following update after receiving a more than two hour long classified briefing on recent drone sightings in the Northeast:

“Yesterday’s two-hour long classified briefing about reported drone and other observed overhead activity in the Northeast reinforced what I’ve been saying for I’ve learned in earlier FBI and DHS briefings: I don’t believe these recent drone sightings pose an imminent threat to public safety.

That said, I directly urged representatives from the FBI and DHS to immediately brief the public on what they know. There is no reason to keep the public, especially families in New Jersey, in the dark about what they are seeing in the air. People shouldn’t have to deal with the stress of not having the information they deserve. I believe the people I represent in New Jersey and our local law enforcement officers who have seen drones.

I appreciate that the federal government has moved drone monitoring equipment into New Jersey. I’ve asked the FBI and DHS to immediately augment their monitoring equipment to cover more of the state.

Ultimately, we must also equip local and state law enforcement with permanent monitoring equipment, so that they can track and respond to unwelcome and unauthorized drones. We must be prepared to track drone activity and stop unauthorized drones, especially over military bases, reservoirs and other critical infrastructure, airports, and homes.

Working with law enforcement and the intelligence community, I will continue to develop additional legislation to help further protect the country and our national security.”

###