Lower Bucks Today

Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, representing Pennsylvania's 1st District and serving as Chairman of the National Intelligence Enterprise Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), has reached out to federal agencies for urgent action. In a letter addressed to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Fitzpatrick is calling for an investigation into increasing reports of unexplained drone activity in the Philadelphia region, including Bucks County and neighboring New Jersey.

The congressman expressed concern over sightings of unidentified unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) near critical infrastructure. He emphasized the need for immediate federal action to address public safety concerns and ensure transparency.

Fitzpatrick's letter poses several questions: "Has the FAA been able to access the remote identifications of the drones not acting in compliance? And if so, what can be determined about these UAS?" He also asks whether "federal agencies (DHS, FAA, and FBI) [are] collaborating with state and local partners to ensure appropriate accountability measures are in place for violators of UAS regulations?" Furthermore, he inquires about additional protective measures that authorities overseeing critical infrastructure might implement against potential threats.

In his communication with Director Mayorkas, Administrator Whitaker, and Director Wray, Fitzpatrick highlighted community reports from recent weeks regarding unidentified drone activity over areas with critical infrastructure. Although initial briefings suggest no immediate threat to public safety, he stressed taking constituents' concerns seriously.

Fitzpatrick has requested a classified briefing from relevant intelligence agencies through his role as Chairman. Additionally, he seeks answers regarding remote identification access by the FAA and collaboration among federal agencies with state and local partners. The letter also questions whether authorities should implement further measures for privacy and security protection against potential threats posed by UAS.

Concluding his letter, Fitzpatrick thanked recipients for their attention to this matter while inviting any concerns or questions related to his request.