Two years ago, a Chinese balloon the size of three school buses hovered 60,000 feet in the air, drifting across the continental US for seven days. It passed over sensitive security areas, including Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, and was equipped with thousands of pounds of equipment, including a massive surveillance payload. The President Biden administration had claimed the balloon was not a major security breach, despite it being equipped with communication equipment and surveillance capabilities.
Recently, dozens of mysterious drones have been spotted in the skies across New Jersey and New York City, near Picatinny Arsenal Military Base, Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, and the Verrazzano Bridge. The drones are large, ranging from 15 feet to the size of a car, and their origins are unknown.
Lawmakers have approached the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for information about the drones, but have received no clear answers. The FBI has stated that the drones could be operated by sophisticated state actors, counterterrorism groups, or simply be a nuisance.
The article argues that the lack of action from federal agencies is unacceptable and poses a threat to national security. The author urges for immediate action and close coordination across federal agencies to address the issue. The use of drones is not inherently bad, but their unchecked and unidentified flights near sensitive locations demand immediate attention.
