“WE NEED MORE”
Schumer, in a letter to Mayorkas on Sunday, urged the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy special drone-detection technology across New York and New Jersey, since traditional radar struggles to detect such small objects.
He also called for the passage of legislation to explicitly authorise state and local law enforcement to work with federal agencies to detect and “bring down drones that threaten critical facilities or mass gatherings”.
Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, meanwhile expressed frustration at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over its communications around the issue.
“The answer ‘we don’t know’ is not a good enough answer,” he told Fox News Sunday.
“When people are anxious … people will fill a vacuum with, you know, their fears and anxieties and conspiracy theories,” he said, calling for the FAA to hold public briefings.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby had previously said the aircraft could be lawfully operated planes or helicopters mistaken for drones.
“While there is no known malicious activity occurring, the reported sightings there do, however, highlight a gap in authorities,” he said on Thursday, calling for Congress to pass new legislation to “extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Sunday that authorities had agreed to send a drone detection system to her state.
“I am grateful for the support, but we need more. Congress must pass a law that will give us the power to deal directly with the drones,” she said on X.
On Friday, President-elect Donald Trump urged federal authorities to clearly identify the drones’ origins.
“Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” he posted on social media.
As the price of drones has fallen – small quadcopter models with Wi-Fi camera capability can be purchased for as little as US$40 – their numbers and popularity have soared, making their presence in American skies a greater concern.
