By Mike Brest. Media: Washingtonexaminer
The FBI allocates only about $500,000 of its $11 billion budget for counter-drone capabilities, a senior bureau official told House lawmakers Tuesday, who heard the agency still has not determined who is responsible for a series of drone incursions in New Jersey.
Robert Wheeler Jr., the assistant director of the Critical Incident Response Group in the FBI, faced difficult questions about the incursions, which started last month, during a joint hearing by the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence and Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.
During the testimony, Wheeler was drawn on the amount of money the agency has dedicated toward anti-drone capabilities. Wheeler specified that the ātechnical part of [the] operational budgetā is ājust less than $500,000.ā
The admission received scrutiny from lawmakers.
āThat doesnāt seem nearly adequate. Why do you feel like there isnāt much within the FBI to keep up with modern warfare and modern threats?ā Rep. Eli Craine (R-AZ) asked Wheeler during the hearing. āWarfare has changed drastically right now, overseas, especially with Ukraine and Russia and the development of drone technology. Why isnāt the FBI taking this threat seriously, and thatās obviously reflected by the budget that you guys have assigned to counter-drone technology?ā
Wheeler said they have received over 3,000 tips from the public and the drones were ādescribed as being slightly larger than a commercially available drone, fixed wing, as well as rotary.ā
The FBIās Newark office is working with state and local law enforcement officials to conduct the investigation.
Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) said his office and law enforcement are taking the situation ādeadly seriously.ā
āThe minute you get eyes on them, they go dark. And, you know, weāre obviously most concerned about sensitive targets and sensitive, critical infrastructure,ā he said on Monday. āWeāve got military assets, weāve got utility assets, weāve got the president-electās, one of his homes, here.ā
The governor also said there were 49 reports of drones on Sunday alone, mostly in Hunterdon County.
Wheeler was asked if he thought the public was at risk due to this threat, and the FBI assistant director said he didnāt know: āThereās nothing that is known that would lead me to say that, but we just donāt know and thatās the concerning part.ā
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) said itās ācrazyā and āmadness that we donāt know what these drones are.ā