The bright lights of drone-like objects lighting up the night sky have been spotted in Maryland, prompting lawmakers, federal agencies and even a former governor to search for answers.

“I am aware of reports of numerous apparent drone sightings over the Delmarva Peninsula and in Salisbury, Maryland, in my district,” Maryland Republican Congressman Andy Harris told The Baltimore Sun on Saturday. “We need transparency now from the White House to find out if these drones are a threat to our national security, and if they are, we need to take proper corrective action immediately.”

This increased activity first made national headlines in New Jersey, and now widespread questions have been raised about the origin of the drones, which also have been spotted in Pennsylvania and New York.

Federal officials have not ruled out that some of the objects could be airplanes or helicopters. However, the drones do not appear to be a threat to national security — for the time being.

“We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus,” the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI said in a joint statement. “The FBI, DHS and our federal partners, in close coordination with the New Jersey State Police, continue to deploy personnel and technology to investigate this situation and confirm whether the reported drone flights are actually drones or are instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate sightings.”

Precautions are being taken.

On Saturday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced a temporary flight restriction in place for the annual Army-Navy game at Northwest Stadium in Landover. The area was considered a “No Drone Zone” for a two-nautical-mile radius around the stadium and up to 2,000 feet above ground level.

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan expressed his concerns about the drone activity on social media after claiming he spotted an object in the sky around 9:45 p.m. on Thursday near his Davidsonville home. He sees this phenomenon as a growing problem in Maryland and throughout the U.S.

“Like many who have observed these drones, I do not know if this increasing activity over our skies is a threat to public safety or national security,” Hogan wrote on X. “But the public is growing increasingly concerned and frustrated with the complete lack of transparency and the dismissive attitude of the federal government. The government has the ability to track these from their point of origin but has mounted a negligent response. People are rightfully clamoring for answers, but aren’t getting any.”

D.C. meteorologist Matthew Cappucci responded on X that some of the lights in the sky highlighted by the former governor were stars in “the constellation ‘Orion'” rather than drones, however.

Other drone sightings have been reported in the Woodberry neighborhood of Baltimore and Prince Frederick in Calvert County.

The drone activity is also a concern among industry experts.

Eric Brown, founder and CEO of Imperio Consulting, spent 24 years in the Special Forces as a Green Beret and has seen firsthand the evolution of drone technology. If drones are appearing in areas where they shouldn’t, especially near critical infrastructure, it’s a signal that someone is gathering information or testing boundaries. This would naturally be a concern for any government agency tasked with ensuring public safety and national security, according to Brown.

“The potential risks depend on how the drones are used. In combat, drones were essential for gathering intelligence and ensuring mission success, but that same technology could be used for surveillance of sensitive locations,” Brown told The Baltimore Sun. “Drones can also deliver payloads, as we utilized them to carry ordnance in certain missions. While such use requires precision and authorization in military contexts, the potential for misuse in civilian settings — accidentally or intentionally — is significant.”

Yashin Manraj, CEO of Pvotal Technologies, said the surge in national interest and curiosity has attracted many copycats who are now flying their FAA-compliant drones to “troll” the media. The most effective way would be to identify the drone handlers and penalize them in a public setting to inform and quell the fears related to this activity, he said.

“We hope that lawmakers take a nuanced approach and balance the hysteria with a concerted effort to empower the U.S. technological hegemony to extend to drones rather than letting other countries get ahead while we curtail our growth and progress for political reasons,” Manraj said.

Melissa Swisher, the chief revenue officer at SkySafe, said rising drone activity is a serious concern for both local and federal governments due to the increasing risks posed to public safety and critical infrastructure. Unauthorized drones can disrupt operations at airports, power plants, water treatment facilities and even military bases.

These incidents not only endanger lives but can also lead to significant economic and operational disruptions. Governments are under pressure to address these threats while managing the growing adoption of drones in legitimate industries, she said.

“The dangers of drones are wide-ranging. Unauthorized drones can be used for espionage, and weaponized to damage power grids, disrupt airspace, endanger aircraft, jeopardize public events, smuggle contraband into secure facilities, and deliver harmful payloads,” Swisher told The Baltimore Sun. “They also pose a surveillance risk, potentially violating individual privacy and compromising sensitive operations or infrastructure.”

Hogan has demanded answers.

The mystery of these objects has created unease among residents.

“We are being told that neither the White House, the military, the FBI, nor Homeland Security have any idea what they are, where they came from, or who has launched or is controlling them — and that they pose no threat,” Hogan wrote on X. “That response is entirely unacceptable. I join with the growing bipartisan chorus of leaders demanding that the federal government immediately address this issue. The American people deserve answers and action now.”

Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.