Michael Whitaker (left), NJ drone
By Guy Page
The Vermont resident in charge of the Federal Aviation Administration – which has some oversight over drone operation – is on the hot seat as the NY/ northern New Jersey Drone Mystery continues.
A Pennsylvania state senator told Michael Whitaker of Norwich she will introduce a resolution allowing states to destroy drones deemed a threat.
New York and New Jersey U.S. senators are demanding a briefing from top federal officials – including Michael Whitaker – about the drone sightings seen in the skies over New Jersey since late November.
The letter from Sens. Chuck Schumer, Kristen Gillibrand, Corey Booker and Andy Kim (available on X) to Whitaker, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas notes that drones ‘larger in size comparable to other commercially available drone technology’ have been seen floating around military installations and other security-sensitive areas.
Whitaker was copied on the letter presumably because the FAA has the most direct regulatory oversight over drones. Whitaker, who was appointed in October 2023, announced his resignation this week. He will leave his job the day President-elect Trump takes office.
When he was hired, Whitaker was touted as an advanced electric aircraft expert, based on his work as a top official in the Obama administration, and his operation of Supernal, an air taxi builder.
Also, a Pennsylvania state senator wants state governments to have drone oversight, up to and including shooting them down. In a letter to Whitaker, Sen. Rosemary Brown urged that “It is time to allow state governments to respond swiftly and decisively in these instances. Currently, Federal Aviation Administration regulations limit state and local governments to disable or neutralize drones that pose eminent danger to the communities we represent. This is why I have introduced a resolution urging the federal government to empower the state governments with the legal authority to respond when drones are deemed a threat.’
At 9:23 AM Friday Dec. 13, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed the lack of information and also commented on the ‘insufficiency’ of government oversight in this press release:
“We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus. The FBI, DHS and our federal partners, in close coordination with the New Jersey State Police, continue to deploy personnel and technology to investigate this situation and confirm whether the reported drone flights are actually drones or are instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate sightings.
“Historically, we have experienced cases of mistaken identity, where reported drones are, in fact, manned aircraft or facilities. We are supporting local law enforcement in New Jersey with numerous detection methods but have not corroborated any of the reported visual sightings with electronic detection. To the contrary, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully. There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space.
“We take seriously the threat that can be posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), which is why law enforcement and other agencies continue to support New Jersey and investigate the reports. To be clear, they have uncovered no such malicious activity or intent at this stage. While there is no known malicious activity occurring in New Jersey, the reported sightings there do, however, highlight the insufficiency of current authorities.”
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Categories: National News
The government, right up to the White House briefings, will continue to drone on about how there is nothing to see here . . . no worries . . . the bottom line is that the government is no longer trusted by we the people. The government IS the biggest threat to us.
Guy:
What do you suppose Harry Truman would have done on about the second day of repeats in this mess? Those of us who were alive back when Harry was President, would have an answer very soon.
Then there is this: “Drone expert Dr. William Austin suggested that New Jersey residents may be flying their own drones to look for other drones, which has led to mass reports of unidentified aerial aircraft flying at night” . . . as they drone on. LoL
I see one over my airspace I’ll let you all know what it is if there is anything left of it when it hits the ground
If you want to find out what government agency is flying them, just aim a powerful laser pointer at them for several minutes, and the agency will pay you a visit. Wear your eye protection and get the tea kettle ready.
Do you suppose the Green Mountain Boys at the Burlington air port could sent a jet up there and find the problem?????
Hey you are in Charge of the skies. Get the lead out. Find out who is doing it and where they originated from.
retiring after Trumps in office speaks volumes, you’re fired, are there any real men or woman working for the Government anymore.
I think we’re going to find out that this is a psy-op of a departing administration that has gone completely rogue and now is undermining OUR confidance in national security… because, you know, fear and terror make people so easy to control… the old demorat way… campaigns of organized terror of the mind and body of …well, the boogey man who can’t be seen and can’t be identified…
Be scared… and comply!!!!!!!
Sound familiar? This IMHO is just another ploy to distract us from the destruction from the inside of what we hope is our government.
I see Trump coming in with a whole NEW government…but will we be run openly this time, by oligarchs (which by definition billionaires in gov’t positions ARE if they are influencing politics or gov’t from those positions…which so far, every billionaire from Zuck to Musk is… paying their million entry fees to be part of the oligarch club… be warned…).
How can us little people make ourselves heard with that kind of fee??? If I don’t have a billion… will my voice be heard? (rhetorical question)
Holograms???? Nothing would surprise me.
I do not relish having a drone shot down over my property by an F-35 or any other military devise. But if that is to be, as a states rights proponent I insist we include individuals have that right above their own property. If a drone is hovering overhead maybe taking photo’s or spying or collecting data I should be able to disarm it. Throw a blanket over it, shoot it down with a shot gun ,whatever. Of course the person, me in this case is responsible for damage caused to the surrounding area by my shotgun (not damages to the drone). Also finders keepers. It’s my drone now.
SHOCKING …. another VT inmate running the FAA asylum