U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is calling on the federal government to implement improved drone-tracking technology in order to detect and eventually eradicate the aerial pests, following weeks of anxiety and confusion about the drones buzzing over areas of New York and New Jersey.
According to reports from his office, the Democrat from New York is urging the Department of Homeland Security to immediately implement specialized equipment that recognizes and tracks drones back to their landing locations.
Schumer’s remarks coincide with the public’s rising dissatisfaction with the federal government’s failure to stop the drones and provide transparent explanations for who is operating them. According to national security officials, the drones don’t seem to be an indication of outside meddling.
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, stated on Fox News Sunday that many of us are currently quite frustrated. The response “We don’t know” is insufficient.
Last week, Donald Trump, the president-elect, wrote on social media: Is it possible that this is taking place without our government’s knowledge? Not in my opinion. Now is the time to inform the people. If not, shoot them down.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Sunday that some Department of Homeland Security organizations have the authority to render drones inoperable. However, he stated that we must enlarge such authorities, but he did not specify how.
According to Mayorkas, the drones don’t seem to be connected to any foreign countries.
As far as we are aware, there has been no foreign participation in the Northeast sightings. And we are looking into this matter with vigilance,” Mayorkas stated.
Federal aviation regulations started mandating some drones to announce their identities last year. It is unclear if that information has been utilized to identify the operators of the drone swarming sites in New Jersey and New York. When asked if they have used this technology to identify drones, Mayorka’s office could not immediately comment.
Schumer is advocating for the deployment of recently declassified radar technology to help identify electronic registration, follow an object back to its landing location, and help determine whether it is a bird or a drone.
On Sunday, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York said that the federal government would be delivering a drone detection system to the state.
Hochul said in a statement that this technology will help federal and state law enforcement in their investigations. Other information, such as the location of the system’s deployment, was not immediately disclosed by the governor.
Last month, dozens of enigmatic nighttime flights began over New Jersey, which alarmed locals and authorities. The fact that the flying objects were first observed over Trump’s golf course in Bedminster and close to the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing site, is part of the cause for concern.
They were seen in central Pennsylvania as well.
Although they are subject to municipal and Federal Aviation Administration laws and flight limits, drones are permitted in New Jersey for both commercial and recreational use. FAA certification is required for operators.
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