Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., called out the Biden administration during a press conference Saturday about the recent drone sightings that have stumped U.S. officials.
The unidentified drone sightings, which have been observed flying above U.S. military installations and New Jersey homes since mid-November, have caused concern in the Garden State.
The aircraft have also been spotted in Connecticut. On Thursday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called for the drones to be “shot down” if necessary.
On Saturday, U.S. officials held a phone conference with reporters and appeared to downplay concerns about the drones, saying there was no evidence linking the aircraft to foreign adversaries.
MORE THAN 20 DAYS INTO PHENOMENON, PENTAGON STILL HAS NO ANSWERS ABOUT ORIGINS OF MYSTERIOUS NJ DRONES
Alejandro Mayorkas was recently called out during a press conference about the sightings of drones in New Jersey. (AP Images/Doug Hood/Asbury Park Press)
Speaking from Seaside Heights, New Jersey, Smith said he asked DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas why the drones’ origins are still unknown.
“I asked Secretary Mayorkas at a briefing, a Zoom briefing, why we can’t follow them, find out where they’re going,” the Republican told reporters. “They’re coming from somewhere. … You can’t seem to do that.
“Why can’t we follow them and find what their origin is? Many of them seem to be coming from the ocean.”
The representative also mentioned that he contacted Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin to ask the U.S. military to authorize the use of force against the unusual drones.
DRONE MYSTERY: NEW JERSEY HOMEOWNERS THREATEN TO TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS IF GOVERNMENT DOESN’T ACT
Authorities are investigating unusual drone activity in northern New Jersey, including the area of Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster. (Getty Images)
“I’ve written Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asking the Pentagon to authorize the use of force to down one or more of these unmanned threats to uncover the mystery, bring them down over the ocean, over an area where there’s no population,” Smith said. “Bring them down and find out who’s doing it.”
The New Jersey politician also expressed the belief the drones may be tied to at least one foreign government.
A map showing some of the locations where mystery drones have been spotted in New Jersey in December 2024. (Fox News)
“The elusive maneuvering of these drones, I would suggest, suggests a major military power sophistication,” the Republican said. “That begs the question whether they have been deployed to test our defense capabilities or worse, by violent dictatorships, perhaps maybe Russia or China or Iran or North Korea.
“I mean, they had the capability, and they certainly have the motive,” Smith added. “The Pentagon has said the drones are not ours.”
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A person was hospitalized following an emergency response to the Aquarium MBTA Station in Boston overnight.
Crews could be seen gathered outside the station entrance, and Boston EMS says one person was transported.
No additional information was immediately available.
This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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Five baseball and softball teams from the Pittsburgh area brought home hardware from Penn State University earlier this week after winning PIAA state championship titles.
With a 6-5 win vs. Holy Ghost Prep on Thursday, Indiana became just the fifth baseball team from the WPIAL to win back-to-back state championships.
Indiana (22-4) held a 6-3 lead through 5 innings, holding on in bottom of the 7th to win the game and earn gold at Penn State University’s Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Brady Oakes got the win on the mound for Indiana, striking out four batters while Charlie Manzi came into the game in a relief role, striking out five and getting the save.
“It was harder this year,” Indiana coach Dan Petroff said to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “We got everybody’s best effort every game and that made it more special. This feels like we ran a marathon and now we’re done. We can breathe a little, I guess.”
Shaler Area made it back to the top of the mountain for high school softball in Pennsylvania, beating Abington Heights on Friday with a mercy rule victory at Penn State’s Nittany Lion Softball Park.
Bria Bosiljevac struck out eight batters on the mound for Shaler (24-1), shutting out Abington Heights while only allowing one hit.
Haley Machajewski ended the game in the 5th inning, hitting a walk-off grand slam to claim gold for Shaler.
“It really was everything. It’s full circle since we started,” Machajewski said. “Our freshman year winning silver, to come back and win gold and walk it off, especially as my last hit — this program has given me so much, and that was a great way to give back to it.”
“I’m so excited for them,” Shaler coach Tom Sorce said to the Post-Gazette. “All year, they wanted to get back here and do the job since we lost in 2023. I’m so happy for them.”
Union Area has gone back-to-back and won its second straight PIAA 1A softball championship.
With a 7-3 win against Holy Cross, Union (22-2) are now repeat champions.
The Scotties, who were playing in the 1A title game for a third straight season, scored early and often, jumping out to a 4-0 lead that they never gave back.
Korynne Shannon had eight strikeouts on the mound for Union, allowing 7 hits in the complete game win.
It was an all-WPIAL state championship game in Class 2A and Laurel came out on top, beating Chartiers-Houston 7-1 to claim the school’s first softball championship.
Laurel (20-6) gave up a run in the opening inning but rallied from there and never looked back, scoring all 7 of their runs between the third and sixth innings.
“When we lost [in the WPIAL semifinals], we could either feel sorry for ourselves or we could go battle,” Laurel coach Bill Garroway said. “This team, the seniors especially, are very resilient. We still had life. Whoever was in front of us, we were going to battle.”
Riley Balcom got the win on the mound for Laurel, striking out five batters and allowing just four hits.
Hempfield has now won the most PIAA softball championships among all teams in the WPIAL.
With a 5-4 win vs. Owen J. Roberts, Hempfield (25-1) are in a class of their own when it comes to state championships among Pittsburgh-area softball teams.
Hempfield rallied from a 3-0 deficit, scoring five runs between the 4th and 5th innings, hanging on for victory after allowing Owen J. Roberts to draw back within one run in the top of the 7th.
“It’s super exciting to bring another PIAA title back to Hempfield,” head coach Tina Skelly-Madison said to the Post-Gazette. “It’s an awesome accomplishment.
Julia Carhola struck out seven batters in the win for Hempfield.
WALLINGFORD, Conn. (WFSB) – Hundreds of athletes are competing in the 12th annual Gauntlet 5K on Wednesday morning.
The race features adaptive obstacle courses on the campus of Gaylord Hospital. Many of the athletes participating received treatment or went through rehab at Gaylord Hospital.
Much of the proceeds raised goes back to the hospital’s adaptive sports program and sports association. The program offers 18 adaptive sports at little to no cost to participants. It is the state’s largest adaptive sports program dedicated to improving the lives of anyone with physical disabilities.
Jess Youngblood, a Gauntlet adaptive athlete, said she is committed to giving it her all on the course.
“I was very active before all of this,” Youngblood said. “So being in the wheelchair is definitely a different experience. But I don’t let it slow me down.”
The first race kicks off at 8 a.m. and races will continue through 2 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WFSB. All rights reserved.
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