Fitzgerald on drones over Bucks County: ‘we need answers’

Rep. Mike Fitzgerald, R-PA, 1st District, doubled down on his call for answers from the federal government about drones in the skies over Bucks County.

Police in Bedminster and Doylestown Township reported sightings on Thursday night hours after the During a White House briefing on Thursday, National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said there is no evidence to suggest the drones pose a national security or public safety threat.

Kirby also said they do not appear to have any foreign connections. His comments echoed a joint statement by the FBI and Homeland Security that people may in fact be seeing manned aircraft.

"The latest report of unidentified drones flying over critical & sensitive sites, like the U.S. Air Base at Ramstein in Germany, is more than concerning—it’s an unacceptable threat to our security. Enough is enough. We need answers. We need action. Now," Fitzpatrick wrote in a tweet on Friday.

The Republican in his tweet noted that he was an FBI supervisory special agent and Chairman of the National Intelligence Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

"I’ve heard the concerns of my constituents and the broader American public loud and clear. I will not back down until we have answers and take necessary action. This is a matter of national security—and inaction is not an option," Fitsgerald wrote.

Fitzgerald in a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, and FBI Director Christoper Wray posted four questions.

1. Has the FAA been able to access the remote identifications of the drones not acting in compliance? If so, what can be determined about these UAS?
2. Are the DHS, the FAA, and the FBI collaborating with state and local partners to ensure the appropriate accountability measures are in place for violators of current UAS regulations?
3. Are there any measures authorities who oversee areas of critical infrastructure in this region should be implementing to protect themselves from a potential threat to their privacy and security?
4. Has the FAA been able to record the flight tracks of these UAS and identify what classes of airspace they are operating in and any subsequent airspace incursions?

Drone sightings should be reported to fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) and not local police.

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