Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.) warned Tuesday that the federal government lacks a clear understanding of widespread drone sightings across the U.S., calling the situation a potential national security vulnerability.
Giménez, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, told NewsNation's "Dan Abrams Live" that he is deeply concerned about the government's inability to track or identify the origins of numerous drone flights.
"The federal government hasn't the faintest idea what's going on with these drones," the Florida Republican said. "That concerns me more than anything else."
The comments come after multiple drone sightings across the East Coast, including near military installations in New Jersey and Ohio. While White House and Pentagon officials have downplayed the incidents, suggesting most are recreational or commercial aircraft, Giménez argues more investigation is needed.
Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder acknowledged that over one million drones are registered in the U.S., with approximately 8,500 in flight on any given day. Most are used for recreational or commercial purposes, he said.
"Drones pose a threat and they're going to be an increasing threat and one day they're going to do something bad," Giménez said.
A closed-door House Intelligence Committee briefing on the drone sightings has further fueled speculation. The Florida lawmaker suggested that the classified meeting was an attempt to gain more information after previous public briefings revealed "nothing."
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby stated that initial analysis shows the aircraft are "a mix of law enforcement drones, commercial drones and hobbyists," with no indication of public safety or national security risks.
Giménez, who has been raising concerns about drone threats since his time as Miami-Dade County mayor, warned that technological advances, particularly in artificial intelligence, could make future drone incidents more dangerous.
"With the advent of artificial intelligence, when you don't need a pilot anymore, those drones are going to pose a significant problem," he said.
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