(NewsNation) — Help is on the way in the search for a greater understanding of drones spotted flying across the Northeast.
Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul revealed in a social platform X post on Sunday morning that federal assistance was en route.
“In response to my calls for additional resources, our federal partners are sending a drone detection system to New York,” Hochul said.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that the federal government is deploying a high-tech drone detection system to address the issue.
The federal government did little to answer those questions in its own media briefings Sunday morning. “There’s no question that people are seeing drones,” U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. “But I want to assure the American public that we are on it. We are working in close coordination with state and local authorities.”
Some of the drones reported above parts of New York and New Jersey have turned out to be “manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones,” Mayorkas said. “We know of no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings in the Northeast. And we are vigilant in investigating this matter.”
But, the governor did state that action alone would be insufficient, and called on Congress to empower the state.
“I am grateful for the support, but we need more,” she added. “Congress must pass a law that will give us the power to deal directly with the drones.”
On Saturday, Hochul joined several administrators in urging the Biden administration and lawmakers to “ensure the safety of our critical infrastructure and our people.”
In recent days and weeks, New Jersey has also been home to drones, some of which have been spotted near military facilities.
The FBI has concluded the drones do not belong to the U.S. military and that foreign governments are not behind the objects.
Schumer calls for ‘special drone-detection tech’
On Sunday afternoon, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called Mayorkas to “deploy special drone-detection” technology in New York and New Jersey.
“I’m pushing for answers amid these drone sightings,” Schumer posted on X.
NewsNation partner The Hill and The Associated Press contributed to this report