The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced temporary flight restrictions banning drone activity across several New Jersey cities, citing "special security reasons." The restrictions come in response to a recent spike in drone sightings that has raised concerns among lawmakers and residents.
The ban, which will remain in effect until January 17, 2025, applies to cities including Jersey City, Elizabeth, Camden, and Hamilton, among others. While commercial drone operators can continue activity with proper waivers and compliance with FAA regulations, private and hobbyist drone flights are prohibited. Exceptions have been made for drones supporting national defense, law enforcement, and emergency response missions.
The FAA's decision follows an influx of reports since November of unidentified drones flying over New Jersey. Federal agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), have been investigating the sightings but have found no evidence of large-scale unmanned drone activity. "Having closely examined the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones," the FAA said in a joint statement with other federal agencies.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed frustration over the lack of concrete answers from the Biden administration regarding the origins of the drone sightings. Speaking on Fox News, Johnson said he convened a meeting with officials from the Department of Defense (DoD), the DHS, and the FBI but received little clarity. "We don't have the answers. The administration is not providing them," Johnson stated.
The FAA's announcement comes amid heightened pressure from lawmakers seeking answers and enhanced measures to address the drone activity. A temporary spending package introduced in Congress earlier this week included provisions to allow state and local law enforcement to act on the increase in sightings. However, the measure was scrapped after opposition from Sen. Rand Paul, who argued the legislation would expand government surveillance powers. Paul dismissed concerns about the drones, asserting they do not pose a threat to public safety.
An FBI official disclosed that the agency has received over 5,000 tips regarding the sightings since November, but fewer than 100 were deemed credible enough to warrant further investigation. "We're doing our best to find the origin of those drone activities, but I think there has been a slight overreaction," the official noted during a recent briefing.
The issue has sparked debate among lawmakers and residents, with many calling for greater transparency and stronger regulatory measures. The FAA's temporary restrictions are seen as a precautionary step to address public safety concerns, though federal agencies have maintained that there is no evidence of anomalous or malicious drone activity.
Despite these assurances, the restrictions have drawn criticism from some quarters. Civil liberties advocates argue that the bans could set a precedent for overreach in drone regulation, while others question the effectiveness of the measures in addressing the root causes of the sightings.
