Mike Waltz Warns East Coast Drones Expose Gaps in National Security

Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL), soon to serve as President-elect Donald Trump’s national security adviser, issued a stark warning about the implications of mysterious drones spotted along the East Coast. Speaking on CBS News’ Face The Nation this Sunday, Waltz emphasized how these incidents reveal critical vulnerabilities in the nation’s security apparatus.

“The drone issue points out gaps in our agencies, gaps in our authorities between the Department of Homeland Security, local law enforcement, [and] the Defense Department,” Waltz said. “Americans are finding it hard to believe we can’t figure out where these are coming from.”

Waltz expressed alarm over the drones appearing near sensitive sites, including Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey and President-elect Trump’s residence in Bedminster. Both locations fall under strict no-fly zones, but enforcement appears inadequate.

“You have other no-fly areas those need to be enforced,” he said. “We need to know who’s behind it.”

Waltz criticized the disjointed response from federal and local agencies tasked with addressing the drone threat. “Right now, it seems the Department of Homeland Security, law enforcement, and the Defense Department are kind of all doing this and pointing at each other,” he noted. “How do we enforce these low-level, long-loitering, could-be-dangerous drones?”

Drones, Waltz pointed out, are rapidly advancing in capability. Unlike older models piloted in real-time, today’s drones can follow pre-programmed GPS coordinates or even launch from offshore platforms. These capabilities make detection and interdiction even more challenging.

“They’re evolving so rapidly,” Waltz warned. “And we need to take a hard look at our homeland defenses.”

Waltz also advocated for the expansion of domestic defense systems, echoing President-elect Trump’s vision for a robust “Iron Dome for America.” He argued that any such system must include provisions for neutralizing drone threats in addition to defending against adversarial technologies like hypersonic missiles.

“We can’t just focus on bombers and cruise missiles,” Waltz said. “This situation highlights gaps in our capabilities and underscores the urgent need to strengthen our homeland defenses.”

The mysterious drone sightings have drawn bipartisan attention, but Waltz’s remarks underscore the incoming administration’s priority to address the weaknesses in national security infrastructure. Americans expect answers, and as Waltz suggests, an overhaul of coordination, enforcement, and defense technology may be on the horizon.

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