Former Governor Chris Christie has joined the growing list of New Jersey residents who have reported seeing mysterious “drones” near their homes.

While concerns about strange lights in the sky in New Jersey and other parts of the Northeast have arisen, Christie mentioned in an interview on ABC’s “This Week” that he believes he spotted a drone near his home last week.

“That was definitely a drone above my house; I’ve never seen anything like it before, despite living there for 30 years,” Christie remarked.

The reported sightings have raised public safety alarms, with Christie and others insisting that further investigations are necessary. Christie expressed his desire for state police to have the power to “intercept these drones and determine their purpose.”

“It’s understandable why people feel uneasy, and the lack of communication from federal and state authorities is contributing to this unease,” Christie stated.

Federal agencies have attempted to calm public concerns, assuring that the sightings do not seem to involve any malicious activities. Both the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have indicated that many of these occurrences may not even be related to drones.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also mentioned on ABC’s “This Week” that the federal government is collaborating with New Jersey State Police to look into the drone situation.

“I want to assure the public we are actively addressing this matter. We are working closely with state and local authorities,” Mayorkas explained.

According to Mayorkas, federal investigations have not uncovered any signs of foreign involvement in the drone activities.

While he acknowledged the public’s concerns, Mayorkas highlighted that there are over one million registered drones in the U.S., with thousands actively flying daily, suggesting that such aerial activities are common. He also mentioned that the Federal Aviation Administration updated regulations in 2023 to allow nighttime drone operations.

Mayorkas pointed out that some reported sightings could actually involve manned aircraft, but confirmed “there’s no doubt that drones are being seen.”

Christie noted the increasing importance of drones in various sectors such as commerce and law enforcement, stating: “We need to ensure safety in these operations, and currently, that is not happening.”

President-elect Donald Trump also engaged in the discussion about drones, urging the government to provide more clarity.

“Make the information public immediately. If not, shoot them down!!!” Trump posted on social media.