Assemblyman Alex Sauickie left a State Police headquarters briefing Wednesday on the ongoing drone sightings in New Jersey with more questions than answers, expressing frustration over the lack of information and a coherent response plan from state authorities.
“The public deserves to know that their safety is being actively protected,” said Sauickie (R-Ocean). “After sitting through that briefing, I am gravely concerned. We still don’t know who is behind these drone flights, where they are coming from, or what the state plans to do to figure it out. This level of uncertainty is unacceptable.”
State Police officials provided limited details about the nature of the drone sightings, offering no clear timeline or actionable strategy for identifying the operators or mitigating future threats. Officials from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness appeared unprepared and failed to present a plan, deepening Sauickie’s concerns.
“When our homeland security experts can’t provide even basic assurances about what’s happening in our airspace, it sends a chilling message about our preparedness,” Sauickie added.
Sauickie, a New York City commuter on September 11, 2001, reflected on how critical intelligence failures can have devastating consequences.
“I was in lower Manhattan on 9/11. I’ve seen firsthand what happens when we aren’t vigilant about emerging threats,” he said. “We cannot afford complacency when unknown aircraft are operating above our communities. New Jerseyans deserve better than vague answers and shrugged shoulders.”
Sauickie called on Gov. Phil Murphy, who did not attend the briefing, to prioritize a swift and transparent investigation into the drone activities, urging federal and state agencies to work together more effectively.
“The time for vague briefings and indecisiveness is over. We need action, accountability, and real answers before something serious happens,” Sauickie concluded.
