Sherrill Demands Answers for Drone Activity Over Northern New Jersey

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), member of the House Armed Services Committee and former Navy Helicopter Aircraft Commander, demanded answers from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in response to the concerning increase of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) across Northern New Jersey.

“New Jersey residents have come to me to share their deep concerns about the unidentified drones flying across Northern New Jersey. After conversations with the Department of Homeland Security, as well as state and local law enforcement, it’s become overwhelmingly clear that we need to modernize our counter UAS strategies to meet the demands of ever-changing technologies, ensure that military leaders at bases like Picatinny Arsenal have the tools they need to respond, and implement a better information-sharing system with members of the public,” said Rep. Sherrill. “While there is no known threat to New Jerseyans, I urge Secretary Austin and the Department of Defense to act swiftly to protect our national security and to provide peace of mind for Garden State families.”

Today’s letter comes as part of Sherrill’s ongoing efforts to protect America’s skies. Last year, she successfully passed the BLIPS Act into law, legislation to improve coordination between the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense to ensure that every aircraft in American airspace is tracked and identified.

Additionally, Sherrill fought to include provisions in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act to secure nearly $200 million to allow the Department of Defense to develop a strategy to counter threats from UAS technology and conduct a full assessment of the United States’s counter-UAS capabilities.

Read the full text of Sherrill’s letter here and below:

Dear Secretary Austin: 

As you are aware, recent weeks have seen a marked increase in sightings of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) flying over Northern New Jersey, particularly in the areas of my district in Morris, Essex, as well as other counties surrounding Picatinny Arsenal and other critical infrastructure. These overflights are the latest in a series of concerning UAS sightings over installations ranging from Langley Air Force Base to Plant 42.  

It is clear to anyone who tracks developments in the security space that UAS will play an outsized role in both the espionage and conflict of the future. From the war in Ukraine to the ongoing conflicts of the Middle East, we are receiving new proof that UAS swarms pose serious concerns in wartime – they are agile, they are comparatively inexpensive, and they can be difficult to sense and defeat.  

Although I am encouraged by the great strides made in our own UAS technology, I am deeply concerned by incursions made into sensitive national security sites from unidentified drones with unspecified missions, incursions made with seeming impunity. In speaking with military and civil leaders, as well as officials from various national security agencies, it is clear that more must be done to strengthen our ability to deter and counter these threats and to protect secure locations from UAS activity. 

I am aware that 10 U.S. Code § 130i provides legal authority to you and the Department to mitigate the threats posed by unidentified UAS. However, I am equally aware that the individuals tasked with protecting our military installations and sensitive sites lack the clear guidance and comprehensive set of best practices that would best enable them to carry out that mission.  

As you know, this year’s National Defense Authorization Act contains a provision that requires the Department of Defense to develop a strategy to counter threats from UAS technology and conduct a full assessment of our counter-UAS capabilities.  

Americans, including my constituents in New Jersey, deserve to have confidence that the security of our national defense assets and their communities are being given the appropriate attention, resources, and legal authorities. To that end, I urge you to implement lessons learned from these incursions, develop appropriate countermeasures, and promptly report to Congress on implementation of the strategy required by Section 1090. 

Additionally, I urge you to immediately develop and issue clear and comprehensive guidance to installation commanders and the military Services outlining the legal authorities and capabilities available to them in the event of an unauthorized UAS incursion.  

The residents of my state would benefit from increased transparency and interagency cooperation. As you work to design and implement the counter-UAS strategy, I urge you to share what information you can with the public and work to ease fears and concerns amongst the public. 

I know you share my determination to ensure that our servicemembers and civilians feel that their work, homes, and lives are protected, and I stand ready to work with you in any capacity to strengthen our ability to deter and counter these events as they occur.