FOLLOWING SHUTDOWN OF STEWART AIRPORT, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN SLAMS LACK OF URGENCY AND TRANSPARENCY ON DRONE SIGHTINGS, CALLS FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC DISCLOSURE, OVERHAUL OF COUNTER UAS PROTOCOL

December 17, 2024

Following Shutdown of Stewart Airport, Congressman Pat Ryan Slams Lack of Urgency and Transparency on Drone Sightings, Calls for Additional Public Disclosure, Overhaul of Counter UAS Protocol

In letter to heads of FBI, DoD, DHS, and FAA, Ryan demands they release all unclassified information regarding increased drone activity and calls for complete overhaul of Counter UAS protocol and authorities

Ryan: “These incidents must be a wake-up call – we are woefully unprepared for the threat posed by UAS”

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, following the shutdown of Stewart Airport, home to a major Air National Guard Base in Orange County, Congressman Pat Ryan slammed the lack of urgency and transparency on drone sightings both in his district and across the country. In a letter to the heads of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Federal Aviation Administration. Ryan raised significant concerns that our country is unprepared for the threat posed by UAS, and called for a complete overhaul of counter UAS protocol and authorities, starting with passage of HR 4333, the Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act. In the past week, drones have been spotted at military installations across the country, including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey. At Stewart Air National Guard Base, in Congressman Ryan’s district, it is estimated that the UAS were within 25-50 feet of one of Stewart’s C-17s, valued at $350M. Ryan is a member of both the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

“I’ve got two main concerns. First, we’ve got a transparency issue. The American people deserve answers as to what the hell is going on. Second, we’ve got a serious national security issue. Because, after a week of drones the size of cars flying directly over military installations, it’s pretty clear to me our country is woefully unprepared for the threat posed by UAS,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “This has to be a wake-up call. I’m demanding that all relevant agencies immediately release to the public all unclassified information related to the increase in drone activity. And I’m calling for a complete assessment and overhaul of counter UAS protocol and authorities. We don’t have the right tech, our internal processes are a mess, and I’m not even sure the right departments are in charge. Let’s take the time now to get this right.”

A copy of Ryan’s letter to FBI Director Chris Wray, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Whitaker appears below:

Dear Director Wray, Secretary Austin, Secretary Mayorkas, and Administrator Whitaker,

As unmanned and potentially manned aircraft are being increasingly spotted across the northeast, I am especially concerned about the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) sightings in my district and specifically in Orange County, New York, as well as the completely unacceptable lack of urgency and transparency regarding these sightings.

Several drone incursions have occurred over New York Stewart International Airport, a commercial, corporate, and general aviation airport, but also home to a major New York Air National Guard base shared with Marine Corps Reserves. The runways at Stewart were closed for an hour on December 13, 2024, after several sightings on December 12-14. On December 12, the Fire Department observed up to six Group 1 UAS by the Fire House. Later, an additional four ship formation of UAS was identified over Hangar 300. On December 14, Air Traffic Control advised of UAS activity over Maguire Way (on the installation), identifying two UAS, one being a fixed wing uncrewed system. It is estimated that the UAS were within 25-50 feet of one of Stewart’s C-17s, valued at $350M.

Stewart Air National Guard Base is home to the brave men and women of the 105th Airlift Wing, as well as nine C-17 aircraft, that remain always ready to respond to domestic or worldwide contingencies 365 days a year. The protection of these vital assets is paramount to maintain credible deterrence around the world or provide the maneuver to the fight if deterrence fails. Protecting military and civilian infrastructure is paramount to our national security. Not only is Orange County home to Stewart ANGB, but also the United States Military Academy, where 4,500 of the next generation’s leaders are being trained. The safety and security risks posed by these incidents cannot be overlooked and must be addressed immediately.

Due to the ongoing nature of these incidents, I request the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provide answers to the following questions by December 23, 2024:

Details on how each agency is investigating and responding to the incursions
Details on interagency collaboration and coordination.
1. What channels of communication exist?
  1. How are agencies working together to share information, updates, and other relevant information?
What authorities are currently in place to mitigate incursions?

I request the Department of Defense respond to these questions specifically by December 23, 2024:

What technologies exist on installations to detect incursions?
How does the DoD plan to ensure bases are equipped with the right technologies for UAS detection and mitigation?
1. Are commercial technologies being analyzed for this? If so, which?
How will these incursions impact/be accounted for in the Planning, Programming, Budgeting & Execution Process (PPBE) process and FY26 Defense Budget?
What authorities does the DoD lack to mitigate any threats by foreign or adversarial actors that Congress needs to extend?

If much of this information is classified, I request a briefing with officials in a Secure Compartmentalized Information Facility (SCIF). If not, I request this information be made public immediately. The lack of information and transparency is unacceptable.

I look forward to hearing from you.

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