Sen. Rand Paul Strikes Down Bill Allowing States to Monitor Drones, Flagging Concerns of Government Overreach

WASHINGTON—On December 18, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) obstructed a bill suggested by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) that would allow state and local law enforcement to monitor unidentified drones recently observed in New Jersey, New York, and other Eastern states.

“The federal government requires assistance from local authorities to detect these drones. However, as it stands, the locals lack both the authority and resources to respond. Our bill will address this issue,” Schumer stated prior to the bill’s presentation.

“This body must avoid rushing to grant extensive surveillance powers without adequate examination and discourse by the committees with jurisdiction, which I commit to commencing in January when we assume control of the committees,” he emphasized.

Paul argued that the legislation would intensify federal powers to “intercept communications and disrupt drone operations,” potentially allowing agencies to monitor the cellphone data of large segments of the population while scanning for drones.

In his comparison of the legislation to the Patriot Act, he remarked that it serves as an example where “fear and manufactured urgency are utilized as a pretext to expand government power in the name of freedom.”

Existing drone-tracking legislation is set to conclude on December 20; it was included in the 2018 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding.

The House has put forward new legislation, the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act, which aims to renew and broaden the previous program and extend it until 2028.

The proposed House bill includes provisions for the establishment of a counter-drone program within the DHS, among other changes.

Pfluger, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence, also highlighted the 20,000 reported instances where Mexican drug cartels have deployed drones as part of their operations near the southern border.

Recently, drone sightings began in the northeast around mid-November, initially concentrating in a few counties in New Jersey.

Eyewitnesses have reported sightings of drones comparable in size to an SUV, employing highly advanced technology. They have been seen in formations of up to 50 and were noted trailing a vessel operated by the U.S. Coast Guard.

On December 15, Schumer urged the government to utilize recently declassified drone detection technologies to ascertain the origin and nature of these aircraft.

Hochul mentioned that the federal government was sending cutting-edge drone detection technology to New York. This initiative was prompted by the closure of Stewart International Airport due to a drone sighting.

“I appreciate the support, but we require more,” Hochul remarked.

Schumer indicated that multiple government agencies, including the FBI, DHS, and FAA, back the latest legislation.

However, they clarified that the sightings had mundane explanations, stemming from “a mix of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly perceived as drones.”

Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh stated in a press conference on December 11 that there is no evidence indicating the drones were “originating from a foreign source or adversary.”

She also denied claims made by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), who alleged having received intelligence suggesting that the drones were being launched from an Iranian “mothership” lurking off the East Coast.