Hands Are Tied, Seeks Greater Control [WATCH]

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas addressed the growing concerns over drone activity during an appearance on ABC’s This Week on Sunday, emphasizing the limitations of his agency’s authority to counter the issue.

Mayorkas highlighted the increasing prevalence of drones and called for expanded legislative measures to address the situation effectively.

“There are thousands of drones flown every day in the United States—recreational drones, commercial drones. That is the reality,” Mayorkas explained.

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He noted that changes to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations in September 2023 have contributed to an increase in drone visibility. “The FAA changed the rules so that drones could fly at night, and that may be one of the reasons why now people are seeing more drones than they did before, especially from dawn to dusk,” he said.

Mayorkas assured the public that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is closely monitoring the situation. “We are working in close coordination with state and local authorities,” he stated.

However, he stressed the need for additional powers from Congress, saying, “It is critical, as we all have said for a number of years, that we need from Congress additional authorities to address the drone situation. Our authorities currently are limited, and they are set to expire. We need them extended and expanded.”

The issue of drone activity has become increasingly contentious, particularly with concerns over national security and privacy.

Mayorkas advocated for extending counter-drone capabilities to local and state agencies, provided they operate under federal oversight. “We want state and local authorities to also have the ability to counter drone activity under federal supervision. That is one important element that we have requested, and we’ve heard it echoed by the state and local officials themselves,” he said.

During the interview, host George Stephanopoulos brought up a social media post by former President Donald Trump, who questioned the government’s awareness of the “mystery drone sightings” across the country.

Trump wrote, “Mystery drone sightings all over the country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge? I don’t think so. Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down.”

Responding to the comment, Mayorkas acknowledged the widespread use of drones in the United States, estimating that more than 8,000 drones are flown daily.

He reiterated the agency’s limited ability to incapacitate drones. “With respect to the ability to incapacitate those drones, we are limited in our authorities,” Mayorkas said. “We have certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security that can do that, and outside our department, but we need those authorities expanded as well.”

The DHS has been working with lawmakers to address these gaps, seeking to ensure both security and the responsible use of drone technology.

The call for expanded powers highlights the growing tension between technological advancement and regulatory oversight.

Mayorkas and other officials have repeatedly urged Congress to act swiftly to grant broader authority, ensuring that the DHS and other agencies can respond effectively to potential threats posed by drones.

As the FAA’s relaxed regulations on drone operations come under scrutiny, the debate over how to balance technological innovation with security concerns continues to intensify.

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