Booker Pens Letter Requesting Greater Transparency, Comprehensive Briefing on Drone Activity Over New Jersey

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) sent a letter to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Secretary Pete Buttigieg of the Department of Transportation (DOT) requesting the agencies provide municipal and county officials with a comprehensive briefing regarding the unauthorized drone activity over New Jersey communities. He also requested that officials make any available information accessible to the public.

Senator Booker wrote, "Over the past several weeks, there have been multiple confirmed sightings of unexplained drone activity over New Jersey communities and military installations. These sightings have been confirmed by local and state authorities, prompting the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to open an investigation into the sightings and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to impose flight restrictions over Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County and Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Somerset County. On December 4th, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy convened a briefing with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, state agencies, and members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation. The unexplained drone activity in and around New Jersey continues, however, with reports on December 9th of drone sightings over Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County."

The letter continued, "I recognize the need to maintain operational security of ongoing investigations and that this situation requires complex interagency coordination. However, there is a growing sense of uncertainty and urgency across the state-from constituents and local officials alike-despite assurances that the drones pose no known threats to public safety. As such, I urge you to share any relevant information about these drone sightings with the public. Without transparency, I believe that rumors, fear, and misinformation will continue to spread."

"I also request that the DHS, the FBI, and the FAA provide a briefing to New Jersey's municipal and county officials on the current situation, to include the federal government's response to date, in accordance with appropriate classification restrictions."

Senator Booker's letter concludes, "It is our shared obligation to ensure that our airspace is safe and secure, and I am committed to giving New Jerseyans peace of mind about these activities. I am eager to assist with investigations into the origins of these activities and to work with you to develop policies to protect New Jersey's population and infrastructure from malicious drone activity.

To read the full text of the letter, click here.