The White House has confirmed that the unexplained drones spotted over New Jersey and other parts of the East Coast late last year were flown with authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In the first press briefing of Donald Trump’s second administration, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the widespread speculation surrounding the drones.
“After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons,” she said. “Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones.”
The drone sightings, which began just before Thanksgiving, prompted concern as they appeared in formation over residential areas, military installations and critical infrastructure such as energy facilities, railway stations and reservoirs. Reports surged in December, leading federal agencies to deploy detection technologies and trained observers to assess the situation. The FBI received over 5,000 reports, though only about 100 required further investigation.
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Amid growing public anxiety, lawmakers in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and other states demanded transparency and criticized what they saw as a slow federal response. One New Jersey lawmaker even proposed declaring a limited state of emergency.
We also saw action from congress to advance counter-UAS legislation with the proposed Counter-UAS Authority, Security, Safety and Reauthorization Act of 2024.
In mid-December, a coalition of federal agencies, including the FAA, FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense, issued a statement saying that the sightings were a mix of legal drone operations, aircraft and celestial objects. Shortly after, the FAA imposed a month-long drone ban over parts of New Jersey and New York.
Leavitt sought to allay concerns about the drones, stating, “In time, it got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy.” However, she did not provide further details on the specific nature of the drone operations.
The announcement confirms that much of the speculation surrounding the drone flights was unwarranted, though it remains unclear why federal authorities waited so long to clarify their role.
Post Image – White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at the first press briefing of Trump’s second administration.
