The White House is urging Congress to pass legislation granting broader powers to federal, state, and local governments to address drone activity in U.S. airspace. This call comes as concerns rise over increased drone sightings in New Jersey and other East Coast states.
The Big Picture
The Biden administration’s push highlights growing gaps in authority to monitor and regulate drones as their usage continues to rise. While the government has assessed the activity to pose no security or safety threats, the spike in reported incidents has sparked public alarm.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby underscored the need for action on Tuesday, stating, “We do need better authorities to deal with that growing ecosystem of drones in U.S. airspace. Congress needs to help us get through this.”
Why It Matters?
With drones becoming more accessible for recreational, commercial, and law enforcement purposes, regulatory agencies face challenges managing and tracking their activity.
The FBI has reported receiving over 5,000 tips in recent weeks regarding drone activity, with 100 cases requiring deeper investigation.
Officials believe most sightings stem from commercial drones, hobbyist devices, or even misidentified stars and aircraft.
Despite these findings, the lack of clear enforcement authority has created gaps at all levels of government, making it harder to ensure safe and responsible drone operations.
What The White House Says
Kirby reassured the public during multiple interviews that there was no immediate reason to fear. He explained that a recent federal analysis found no indication of malicious or illegal drone use.
“Our assessment leads us to conclude that these are lawful and legal aviation activities, manned and unmanned drones, and civil aviation aircraft,” Kirby said on NBC’s TODAY show.
He emphasized that the administration is working to remain transparent and provide as much clarity to the public as possible.
Legislation Stalled in Congress
While the Biden administration has proposed legislation to address these gaps, the efforts have stalled on Capitol Hill.
A bipartisan bill led by Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and co-sponsored in the House by now-Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) aims to broaden detection and response capabilities for law enforcement agencies.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has also called on Homeland Security to deploy advanced detection systems like Robin Radar Systems’ “360-degree technology” to monitor drones more effectively.
Schumer and other lawmakers are urging Congress to act swiftly and include these measures in upcoming government funding bills before the end of the year.
What Agencies Are Doing?
A joint statement on Monday from the Defense Department, FBI, FAA, and Homeland Security addressed growing public concerns, stating that their examinations have not found anything out of the ordinary:
The majority of sightings were linked to lawful commercial drones, hobbyist devices, or law enforcement operations.
Other reports included misidentified manned aircraft, helicopters, and even stars mistaken for drones.
The agencies clarified that current drone activity does not pose a national security or public safety risk.
Behind Closed Doors
To address ongoing concerns, members of the House Intelligence Committee are scheduled to receive a closed-door briefing on the drone activity Tuesday afternoon.
Officials from the FBI, CIA, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence will lead the briefing, providing lawmakers with an update on the situation and addressing the next steps.
Zoom Out
Drone use in the U.S. has skyrocketed in recent years as technology has become more accessible. The FAA currently has over one million drones registered, but compliance remains uncertain. Experts suggest not all drone operators follow registration requirements, making oversight more difficult.
What’s Next?
The Biden administration will continue to push for bipartisan cooperation to address gaps in drone regulation.
President Biden is also calling for a bipartisan commission to study the broader issue of drone activity and recommend new policies.
As public concerns grow, lawmakers face mounting pressure to act on drone oversight, ensuring safety in U.S. airspace without stifling innovation.
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