Biden says there’s ‘nothing nefarious’ about recent drone sightings

President Joe Biden sought Tuesday to reassure the public about drones in East Coast states, saying there was nothing alarming about the increased reports of unmanned aircraft sightings.

“Nothing nefarious, apparently,” Biden told reporters at the White House. “We’re following it closely. So far no sense of danger.”

Biden’s remarks — his first public comments on the matter — add to a growing number of reassurances from his administration.

Still, the numerous sightings have sparked demands for more information from across the political spectrum, including President-elect Donald Trump, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York and members of Congress, amid conspiracy theories and rising public concern tied to the sightings.

Biden said Tuesday night that “there’s a lot of drones authorized up there.”

More than a million drones are lawfully registered with the Federal Aviation Administration, according to a joint statement Monday from the Department of Homeland Security, the FAA, the Defense Department and the FBI, who all said the sightings are not out of the ordinary and do not pose “a national security or public safety risk.”

The agencies said Monday that authorities had received more than 5,000 tips in recent weeks and that among the objects that have been identified were commercial, hobbyist and law enforcement drones, as well as some crewed fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and stars.

Intelligence officials briefed members of the House Intelligence Committee on the drone sightings behind closed doors Tuesday afternoon.

Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the panel’s top Democrat, said officials had repeatedly assured them that the drones were not being used “unlawfully” or by people “with malign intent.”

In an interview Tuesday on NBC’s “TODAY” show, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby urged Congress to pass legislation that would give government entities on the federal, state and local levels “better authorities” to address a growing number of drones flying into U.S. airspace.

A provision in the short-term funding bill congressional leaders released Tuesday night would reauthorize a program led by the Department of Homeland Security allowing coordination and permitting federal agencies to counter drone threats.