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Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.) warned Tuesday that the federal government does not have a clear understanding of the drone sightings in the US, qualifying the situation as a potential national security vulnerability.
Gimenez, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, told NewsNation “Dan Abrams live“that he is deeply concerned about the government’s inability to trace or identify the origins of numerous drone flights.
“The federal government doesn’t have the slightest idea what’s going on with these drones,” the Florida Republican said. “That worries me more than anything else.”
The comments come after several drone sightings on the East Coast, including nearby military installations in New Jersey and Ohio. While White House and Pentagon officials have minimized incidentswhich suggests that most are recreational or commercial plane, Giménez argues that more research is needed.
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder acknowledged that there are more than a million registered drones in the US, with roughly 8,500 in flight each day. Most are used for recreational or commercial purposes, he said.
“Drones are a threat and they’re going to be a growing threat and one day they’re going to do something bad,” Giménez said.
A House Intelligence Committee behind closed doors briefing on drone sightings has further fueled speculation. The Florida lawmaker suggested the secret meeting was an attempt to get more information after previous public meetings revealed “nothing.”
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said initial analysis shows the aircraft to be “a mix of law enforcement, commercial and hobbyist drones,” with no indication of public safety or national security risks.
Gimenez, who has been concerned about drone threats since his time as mayor of Miami-Dade County, warned that technological advances, particularly in artificial intelligence, could make future drone incidents more dangerous .
“With the advent of artificial intelligence, when you no longer need a pilot, these drones will be a major problem,” he said.
NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.
