TRENTON, N.J. — Amid mounting concerns over mysterious drone sightings across New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy announced that the state has deployed advanced federal equipment to monitor and identify unmanned aircraft. The governor dismissed claims of a cover-up and said there is no current evidence of foreign interference or suspicious drone activity.
After briefing the New Jersey State Police and the FBI, Murphy confirmed that the state received three sophisticated surveillance systems from the federal government to scan critical infrastructure areas for drones. The equipment, capable of accurately identifying aerial objects, is being operated at various locations across the state.
“There may be suspicious activity out there as we stand here today, but there is little to no evidence of that right now,” Murphy said, adding that the state is taking all reports seriously despite misinformation fueling conspiracy theories.
President-elect Donald Trump, addressing reporters in Florida, suggested the federal government “knows what is happening” with the drones but has not disclosed the information. Trump declined to comment on whether he had been briefed, stating, “They know where it came from and where it went.”
Murphy pushed back against Trump’s remarks, categorizing such claims as baseless. “There’s a lot of conspiracy theories out there right now,” he said, urging residents to rely on verified information.
Officials reiterated that many reported drone sightings turn out to be planes or manned aircraft, and the new surveillance equipment has yet to detect anything suspicious. Federal investigations into the drone activity remain ongoing.
The unexplained drone sightings have raised concerns across the state, prompting increased federal and local collaboration to ensure public safety.