Earlier this week, the White House explained that the majority of drones that sparked widespread concern and media attention last year had been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. This explanation, however, has not satisfied many in New Jersey, including local leaders and residents, as reported by The Hill on Thursday.
Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden expressed his frustration, telling NBC New York, “They should have told the American people. It’s not fair. And certainly, they could have quelled it. Somebody from the FAA certainly had to see all the national reporting that was going on and could have made the phone call. They didn’t.”
On Tuesday, the White House clarified that the drones were being used for research and other purposes.
Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardi also voiced his dissatisfaction, saying, “I wish they told us the fact sooner. The FAA, by not being upfront, could have caused harm.”
New Jersey State Assemblyman Brian Bergen questioned the White House’s response, calling it illogical. “Everything in the sky is authorized to be there by the FAA, or it wouldn’t be in the sky,” Bergen pointed out. “So, I don’t understand the response from the White House. The FAA probably had no idea that they were going to be called out like that.”
Bergen further added, “I just want somebody normal to get up in front of us and give us the truth, the straight truth, no canned response, no carefully chosen words, no dancing around it. If it’s the FAA doing research, what research? If it’s some other entity, whatever other entity it is. We want someone just to be normal for once and give us the truth.”
{Matzav.com}
agreed!