What officials are doing – and suggesting – to learn more about the possible drone sightings

As a flurry of possible drone sightings have triggered local politicians to press federal officials for more information, lawmakers have proposed a variety of different methods for dealing with drones.

As a flurry of possible drone sightings have triggered local politicians to press federal officials for more information, lawmakers have proposed a variety of different methods for dealing with drones. There’s anti-drone legislation being floated in Congress. There are helicopters monitoring drones in Pennsylvania. And the US government is sending drone detection and tracking systems to two military facilities in New Jersey, sources told CNN Monday. At the same time, the White House has sought to reassure the public and said that most of what are reported as drone sightings are actually lawfully operated aircraft, or even stars. “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 aircrafts, helicopters, and even stars that were mistakenly reported as drones,” White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told reporters Monday. “We have not identified anything anomalous or any national security or public safety risks over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the Northeast.” Despite the lack of threats, Kirby emphasized the government is supporting state and local authorities “with technology and law enforcement support.”