Drone detectors in New Jersey have found ’little or no evidence’ of wrongdoing, governor says

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy addresses mysterious drone sightings, calls for action amid growing concerns across the U.S.

Drone-detecting devices deployed in New Jersey in the past week have found “little to no evidence” of anything nefarious or threatening, Governor Phil Murphy said Monday (December 16, 2024) as calls grew for action to address the mysterious nighttime sightings of suspected unmanned flights across the northeastern U.S.

Mr. Murphy told reporters in Trenton that there were 12 sightings of suspected drones in the state on Saturday (December 14, 2024) and one on Sunday (December 15, 2024). He declined to go into detail about the detection equipment but said it was powerful enough to disable the drones, although he added that is not legal on U.S. soil.

Mr. Murphy, a Democrat, echoed calls by state officials elsewhere for Congress to allow them to deal with drones. Nearly all the power now rests with the federal government.

"It is extraordinary to me that, that a nation as great as ours and as powerful as ours has the deficiencies that we have now seen in living color as it relates to drone incursions,” Mr. Murphy said.

Federal officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, have repeatedly said there are no signs that any drone operators have shown bad intent, nor is there evidence of foreign involvement.

“There’s no question that people are seeing drones,” Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Sunday (December 15, 2024). “But I want to assure the American public that we are on it. We are working in close coordination with state and local authorities.”

But that hasn't reassured everyone. Conspiracy theories about foreign actors, the U.S. government and the “deep state,” abound online, while elected officials concerned about threats to military bases, airports and other locations have increased their calls for federal officials to act.