NJ Lawmaker Storms Out of ‘Amateur Hour’ FBI Drone Briefing

State Representative Brian Bergen, a former Apache helicopter pilot who helped establish the Army’s initial unmanned aircraft training battalion, walked out of Wednesday’s high-level security briefing at New Jersey State Police headquarters, calling it “amateur hour” and “worthless” in addressing the mysterious drone activities that have persisted across the state since mid-November. The dramatic exit highlighted growing frustration among state lawmakers over federal authorities’ handling of the investigation, reports CNN.

‘Complete Lack of Effort’

“It was the biggest amateur hour presentation I’ve ever seen,” Bergen told NewsNation after leaving the briefing. “Every question that was asked by the state legislature – great questions – no answers, no resolution. They don’t know where the drones are coming from, they don’t know who’s doing it, they don’t know why they’re doing it, but they say there’s no credible threat.”

Bergen’s criticism carries particular weight given his extensive military aviation background, which includes not only piloting Apache helicopters but also playing a key role in developing the Army’s unmanned aircraft training programs. His expertise in both manned and unmanned military aviation makes his assessment of the federal response especially damning.

Bergen expressed particular frustration with what he characterized as a lack of initiative in tracking the mysterious aircraft. He described one especially concerning incident where law enforcement abandoned pursuit of a six-foot drone because a helicopter pilot “felt unsafe,” a decision Bergen found incomprehensible given available resources and technology.

Growing Legislative Frustration

The 90-minute session, which included officials from the Department of Homeland Security and FBI, left other lawmakers similarly disappointed. Assemblyman Erik Peterson noted that DHS officials appeared dismissive of some concerns, while Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described sophisticated drones capable of evading traditional detection methods.

“This is not about ability – we have the technology, we have the people, we have the training, we have the resources, we have the money. It’s just a lack of effort,” Bergen emphasized, suggesting the briefing should have focused on specific requests for legislative support rather than offering what he described as “excuse after excuse.”

Federal Response Under Fire

The criticism comes as Senator Cory Booker has demanded more transparency from federal investigators, sending a formal request to FBI Director Christopher Wray, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Robert Wheeler, assistant director of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group, maintained during Tuesday’s US Homeland Security Committee hearing that there is no immediate public safety threat, though Bergen strongly contested this assertion.

“They’re saying no threat to Americans? They don’t know anything. They don’t know what it is, they don’t know where they come from, they don’t know nothing,” he said.

Investigation Status and Challenges

The FBI’s Newark field office continues to lead the investigation, focusing particularly on the Raritan River corridor where numerous sightings have been reported. The drones, measuring up to 6 feet in diameter, have demonstrated capabilities far beyond typical civilian aircraft, including:

• Operating with disabled lights
• Evading traditional detection methods
• Coordinated flight patterns
• Apparent counter-surveillance capabilities

While Governor Phil Murphy maintains there is no known threat to the public, some lawmakers, including Representatives Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, have called for military intervention to neutralize the drones, particularly after reports of the aircraft following Coast Guard vessels near Barnegat Light.

Next Steps

Bergen’s dramatic exit from the briefing has intensified calls for a more aggressive response to the drone situation. “I thought they’d have some answers,” Bergen said, expressing his disappointment after driving two hours to attend what he called “a waste of five hours of my entire life.”

His military background in both Apache helicopter operations and unmanned aircraft systems development lends significant credibility to his critique of the federal response. “I know a little bit about what I’m talking about,” Bergen noted, “and these guys are not doing the job they need to do to figure out what’s going on.”

As investigations continue, residents across New Jersey are urged to report any suspicious drone activity to the FBI’s Newark field office, though lawmakers’ confidence in the federal response appears to be deteriorating. The incident has highlighted a growing rift between state and federal authorities in addressing what appears to be an increasingly complex security concern.

Photo courtesy of News Nation / X.