NJ drone incidents spur government push for more counter-drone powers as current authorities set to expire
The mysterious drone phenomenon in New Jersey has caused quite a stir among government officials, leading to renewed calls for expanded power as their counter-drone authorization is set to expire this week. The current authorities, granted as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to use advanced detection technologies to identify, track, and intercept drones that are not following the law.
However, these authorities are set to expire on December 20, and lawmakers must attach a last-minute extension to a stopgap spending bill to avoid a lapse. This piecemeal approach hampers the government’s ability to counter drone threats, according to Steven Willoughby, deputy director of the DHS’s counter-drone office.
The government has been seeking additional authorities to expand counter-drone measures, both at the federal level and for state and local authorities. A senior Biden administration official stressed the importance of passing legislation to address this gap in authorities.
The White House-backed Counter-UAS Authority, Security, and Reauthorization Act of 2024 aims to expand the government’s drone authorities and renew them until 2028, including new state and local drone authorities. However, a separate bipartisan House plan proposes giving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the power to take down drones, rather than just regulating their airspace use.
Despite ongoing disputes over which agency should have what authority, lawmakers must act quickly to prevent a complete loss of power for these agencies. The extension of authority attached to the stopgap measure is expected to last only a few months.
In New Jersey, residents have reported sightings of mysterious drones for nearly a month, with some drones as large as six feet hovering in the night sky. Sightings have numbered between 4 and 180, and some appear to be operating in a coordinated manner. Law enforcement has been unable to provide a clear explanation for these sightings but has ruled out the involvement of a foreign adversary.
Authorities have been unable to locate or identify the operators or origins of these drones, and their limited authorities for moving off-base have hindered their investigation efforts. Unauthorized drone sightings have also been reported near military bases in Ohio and Germany in recent days.
As the government grapples with the challenge of regulating drones and ensuring national security, the need for expanded counter-drone authorities has become increasingly urgent. Lawmakers must act swiftly to address this issue and prevent any potential threats posed by unauthorized drone activity.
