Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas raised a few eyebrows—and probably some blood pressure—when he shrugged off concerns about mysterious drones buzzing over New Jersey. According to Mayorkas, there’s not much the federal government can do because, apparently, he doesn’t have the “authority.” In his chat with CNN, he reassured everyone that these flying objects aren’t a threat, dismissing them as likely nothing more than “convenience store drones” or maybe even “planes.” Yes, you heard that right—planes. Because nothing says “reassurance” quite like equating potential surveillance drones with aisle 5 at your local corner store.
Mayorkas made it clear that shooting them out of the sky wasn’t on the table. “They’re commercially available,” he said, as if the ease of drone shopping at 7-Eleven somehow explains away their unsettling presence over American neighborhoods. Unsurprisingly, his explanation didn’t sit well with many Americans, particularly on social media, where skepticism spread faster than the drones themselves. Critics weren’t buying the convenience-store theory and questioned why federal officials seemed so casual about an issue that’s giving off strong vibes of a security lapse.
Meanwhile, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy wasn’t content with Mayorkas’ “it’s not my problem” approach. Murphy joined a growing chorus of officials demanding answers from the Biden administration. In a letter to President Biden—whose “leadership” on the issue Murphy generously praised—he urged federal agencies to investigate the origin of the drones and provide some actual transparency. It’s a polite way of saying, “Do your job, because people here are worried.”
Murphy wasn’t waiting around for the feds to get their act together. He directed New Jersey State Police and the state’s Office of Homeland Security to assist with the investigation, even as FBI agents admitted this week that they don’t have the resources to handle the drones on their own. In his letter, Murphy emphasized that New Jersey residents deserve real answers, not vague reassurances about harmless flying gadgets. After all, these sightings aren’t exactly inspiring confidence in the government’s ability to protect its citizens.
The whole situation leaves Americans wondering whether this is another case of federal ineptitude. While Mayorkas waves off concerns with convenience store metaphors, people are left scratching their heads and asking why these drones are hovering over their homes in the first place. Maybe they’re harmless—or maybe they’re something more concerning. Either way, the government’s nonchalant response isn’t doing much to calm nerves, and New Jerseyans are demanding action before they start taking matters into their own hands.
