An effort to push through new authority to detect and interdict drones was blocked in the Senate Wednesday after Sen. Rand Paul said it’s too soon to rush a solution that could end up trampling on Americans’ rights.
Top Democrats had pushed the bill as a snap response to the drone sightings in New Jersey in recent weeks.
They said the federal government has the authority and capability to act but doesn’t have the capacity to be everywhere. State and local governments are everywhere but lack the authority.
“The utter confusion surrounding these drone sightings shows that the feds can’t respond to it all on their own,” said Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat and a top backer of the bill. “The most logical thing to do is say let the localities have the authority.”
But Mr. Paul, Kentucky Republican, decried the rush to action.
He said the Biden administration has insisted the drones pose no threat over New Jersey, even as the president asks for more powers. He said that’s inconsistent.
“Tell us what the problem is,” the senator said.
Mr. Paul said he’s willing to work on legislation in the new Congress next year, when Republicans will be in charge of committees, but he warned that the legislation will need to include more safeguards.
In particular, he worried that the bill being offered would let authorities scoop up the phone signals of people near airports during drone incidents.
“This is not just about security. It’s about unchecked government overreach. It’s about capitalizing on fear,” he said.
Mr. Schumer and Sen. Gary Peters, Michigan Democrat and chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, tried to pass the legislation through unanimous consent, which meant it needed agreement of all senators.
Mr. Paul objected, effectively blocking the bill.
It could be brought to the floor under a more drawn-out process, which could require votes overcoming a filibuster, but the Senate is expected to finish up work for the year by the end of this week.
The drone sightings have captivated much of the country, and the federal government’s response has been aggravating to many, including those on Capitol Hill.
The government’s current stance is that the drones are a mixture of legitimate flights by hobbyists, commercial interests and law enforcement, and cases of mistaken identity involving planes, helicopters and even stars.
Federal agencies said they have ruled out any nefarious actors, including foreign governments.
But Mr. Schumer said residents are uncertain.
“The people of New York and New Jersey understandably still have questions, and they deserve answers,” he said.
He saw letting state and local authorities get involved as a way to get those answers.
“These are people we know and trust,” he said.
Mr. Paul saw the expansion of powers the other way, saying the lack of answers right now is a reason not to push into a new frontier of drone law.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.