Waltz says federal agencies are “pointing at each other” to figure out mysterious drone sightings

A series of mysterious drone sightings around the East Coast has lawmakers grasping for solutions to an unfamiliar problem and federal agencies “pointing at each other” to figure out what’s going on, Trump’s likely incoming national security adviser said Sunday. 

“We need to know who’s behind it,” said Rep. Mike Waltz, a Republican from Florida who is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for national security adviser. “But right now, I think law enforcement seems to be…the Department of Homeland Security and the Defense Department are kind of doing this and pointing at each other.”

Speaking on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Sunday, Waltz said he believes the drone issue — which sparked outcry and demands for answers from civilians and leaders alike — highlights lapses in authority between local law enforcement and federal agencies like the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security.

“I think Americans are finding it hard to believe we can’t figure out where these are coming from,” he added. “It’s pointing to gaps in our capabilities and in our ability to clamp down on what’s going on here. And we need to get to the bottom of it.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, echoed the congressman’s concern in a separate interview Sunday on “Face the Nation.” In addition to a briefing for members of the Senate to discuss the situation, she also called for “more transparency” and “new regulatory rules in place” for drone use.

“We’ve got to figure out, do we really want all these drones? Because while these may be safe, who knows what happens in the future?” said Klobuchar. “They have to be within 400 feet [from the ground], so these things are going to be what? Flying over people’s family picnics and over their homes and over beaches? This is not going to be a good future if we see too many of these.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, announced Sunday that he is working to pass a bill in the Senate that would give local authorities more resources for drone detection. He also asked Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to deploy drone-detection technology to New York and New Jersey.

“The laws on where and when and who can fly drones are rather limited. This legislation…