Memphis Standard

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn has reached out to the Department of Defense (DOD) with concerns about recent drone sightings across the Eastern United States. In a letter addressed to DOD Secretary Lloyd Austin, Blackburn inquired about the department's evaluations of these incidents and the measures being taken to counter them. She also asked how the DOD is collaborating with various authorities at different levels.

Blackburn highlighted that these drone activities seem to be part of a larger foreign surveillance strategy targeting U.S. operations. "I write to urgently raise concerns regarding the ongoing drone sightings across the Eastern United States, which have been widely reported over the past several weeks," she stated. She linked these events to previous incidents, such as the 2023 Chinese spy balloon episode and a cyberattack known as Salt Typhoon.

The senator called for decisive action from the DOD to address this issue effectively. "The persistence of credible sightings indicates a significant and evolving risk," she noted, urging military intervention if necessary. Blackburn emphasized that prompt action would not only reduce current risks but also deter adversaries from future attempts to compromise U.S. security.

For further details, readers are directed to view the complete text of her letter.