House Speaker Mike Johnson voiced his frustration with the Biden administration's response to the recent surge of drone sightings, particularly in New Jersey and across the Northeast. He expressed concern over the lack of clear answers from federal authorities regarding the origin and purpose of these drones.

In an interview, Johnson stated that he shares the public's confusion and that the administration has failed to provide adequate explanations. Despite a meeting with officials from the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI, Johnson reported receiving unsatisfactory responses. Authorities maintain that the drones are not linked to foreign entities, pose no immediate threat, and are not involved in data collection, leaving the question of their true nature unanswered.

Johnson criticized Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' recent statement attributing the increased sightings to a change in FAA regulations allowing nighttime drone flights. He argued that the public remains skeptical of this explanation and demands more transparency. Johnson emphasized the importance of protecting American citizens, intelligence, and data, vowing to uncover the truth behind the drone activity.

He contrasted the current administration's response with that of former President Trump, suggesting that Trump would have already addressed the issue decisively. Johnson reiterated the importance of strong leadership and expressed confidence in Trump's ability to handle such situations effectively.

Federal authorities recently identified the sighted drones as belonging to commercial entities, hobbyists, law enforcement, and even misidentified manned aircraft, helicopters, and stars. This assessment is based on technical data and public tips.

Following a closed-door meeting with the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Jim Himes reported that law enforcement and intelligence officials reiterated the lack of evidence suggesting public safety or national security threats. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy acknowledged the limited effectiveness of federally supplied drone-detection equipment and urged Congress to grant states greater authority in managing drone activity. Meanwhile, the FBI and New Jersey state police cautioned against pointing lasers at suspected drones due to increasing incidents of pilots being affected by laser strikes. They also expressed concern over the potential for individuals to mistakenly fire weapons at manned aircraft they believe to be drones.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby confirmed the legality of the majority of drone flights, citing the over one million drones registered with the FAA. He assured the public that the government is actively investigating the reports and evaluating all citizen tips.

Out of over 5,000 reported sightings, about 100 were deemed credible enough for further investigation by a joint effort involving DHS, FBI, FAA, and the Department of Defense. Online speculation continues, with some fearing a potential connection to foreign agents. Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder downplayed the possibility of intelligence gathering due to the drones' conspicuous nature. He denied any Department of Defense involvement and dismissed the idea of military contractors operating the drones. Ryder mentioned the deployment of additional drone-detecting technology to military installations in New Jersey.