NJ rep wants approval for state, local authorities to 'safely take down drones'

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) called for federal law enforcement agencies, led by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, to authorize state and local authorities to “safety take down drones” after sightings in the state.

“The fact that the federal agencies responsible for briefing the public have not come forward in a clear way is unacceptable,” he said during a news conference Friday morning. “It’s totally and completely unacceptable that you have all this drone activity going on that people are seeing with their own eyes."

He cited 11 confirmed sightings of unauthorized in Morris County alone in the last month, and also mentioned Sen. Andy Kim’s (D-N.J.) personal experience seeing a drone Thursday night in Hunterdon County.

“I understand why so many in our community and our state are concerned,” Gottheimer said.

He attempted to ease suspicions, saying there was no concern for an imminent threat to public safety or national security.

Amid the sightings and circulating news, Gottheimer posted on X Thursday night to announce a new legislation “to invest in radar technology that allows local law enforcement to monitor and ensure the safety of drone activity.”

The drones in New Jersey were first reportedly spotted last month, with the majority of sightings in Hunterdon and Morris counties in the northern and central regions of the state.

According to a Tuesday report by local newspaper the Staten Island Advance, there have also been reported drone sightings in Staten Island in New York City. And on Friday, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said he'd seen drones in the sky on Thursday night.

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