MAHWAH – Josh Gottheimer believes his constituents.
Even if the feds are saying something different.
The CD-5 congressman, a federal official himself, of course, weighed in once again Monday morning on the topic du jour – or is it the week?
That would be drones over New Jersey.
“I don’t believe they’re all making it up,” he told reporters at Ramapo College.
In other words, when his constituents say they are seeing drones in the night sky, he believes them.
During what is now a weeks-long saga, the federal government at times has said many of the “drones” are planes or helicopters.
Gottheimer doesn’t buy it.
“People should not have to worry about what’s overhead,” he said, adding that the feds’ response so far is “insulting.”
To help the public report what they are seeing, Gottheimer said he has created a drone page on his website – gottheimer.house.gov. This is a place for constituents to share what they are seeing. Gottheimer’s district covers parts of Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties.
Moreover, the congressman said he wants the House to pass a resolution calling on the relevant federal agencies to hold a press conference and say what they know about the drones. Presumably, he is talking about the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
Gottheimer wants a forum where officials talk about the problem and answer questions. Or as he said, “Not a paper statement.”
He ticked off some of the possibilities, including hobbyists doing some “joy riding” to someone trying to collect data.
If nothing else, the congressman said drones should not be flying over military bases, reservoirs and the like.
Gottheimer is not alone in calling for the feds to provide more info.
Mikie Sherrill, a House colleague of Gottheimer, and like him, a 2025 gubernatorial candidate, released a statement on Monday.
“I’m incredibly frustrated with the lack of coordination and communication from agencies as New Jerseyans continue to watch unidentified drones fly across our skies. Right now, our leaders need to be acting in accordance with a unified plan, and speaking with one voice in order to protect our national security, keep New Jerseyans safe, and ensure state and local authorities have the information and tools they need to take action.”
Sherrill, who represents CD-11, and who is a former Navy helicopter pilot, called for the deployment of “Reaper drones.”
She added:
“Customs and Border Protection (CBP) possesses a fleet of MQ-9 Reaper drones, unmanned aircraft that have the electro-optical/infra-red
(EO/IR) capabilities to track targets in various environments. Where appropriate, coordinating authorities should also have the use of counter-UAS radar systems that can accurately detect drones at site of launch – whether those systems are federal, commercial, state, or locally operated.”
There’s more.
Those watching CNN early Monday morning saw Brian Bergen, an assemblyman from LD-26, talking about drones. Bergen also has an aviation background – having flown Apache helicopters in the Army.
Among the suggestions circulating on social media are to just shoot the drones down.
Bergen, who noted his military experience, said bullets flying around the sky over New Jersey is not a good idea.
This brings us back to the central point of Gottheimer’s event – what’s happening?
“We still don’t have a good explanation,” he said.
That assumes the “powers-that-be” know what the drones are all about.
Maybe, they don’t.
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Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) has recently criticized the federal government’s response to the mysterious drone sightings in his district as “insulting,” according to a report by Insider NJ. The sightings, which have been reported by residents in multiple counties in northern New Jersey, have raised concerns about potential security threats and privacy issues.
Gottheimer, who represents New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District, has been vocal in calling for a thorough investigation into the drone sightings and for increased transparency from federal agencies. In a statement to Insider NJ, Gottheimer expressed frustration with the lack of information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other federal authorities.
“It’s insulting that the FAA and other federal agencies have not been more forthcoming with information about these mysterious drone sightings,” Gottheimer said. “Residents in my district deserve to know what is happening in their own backyard and what steps are being taken to address this issue.”
The drone sightings have sparked a wave of speculation and concern among residents, with some fearing that the drones could be used for surveillance or other nefarious purposes. Local law enforcement agencies have been working to investigate the sightings and determine the source of the drones, but so far no concrete answers have been provided.
Gottheimer’s criticism of the federal response highlights the need for greater transparency and communication from government agencies when addressing potential security threats. As technology continues to advance, it is crucial for lawmakers and officials to stay ahead of emerging threats and ensure the safety and security of their constituents.
In the meantime, residents in northern New Jersey are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious drone activity to local authorities. With continued pressure from lawmakers like Gottheimer, hopefully more answers will soon be provided regarding the mysterious drone sightings plaguing the region.
