A former CIA officer suggests the recent surge in Northeast drone sightings could be a classified government exercise testing evasion or detection technology. This theory contrasts with federal officials downplaying the incidents,

The ex-CIA operations officer's statement comes as federal officers brushed off the outcry over drone sightings as an “overreaction.”

After a series of reported drone sightings in the Northeast, New York officials called for federal action. LeeAnne Lowry. More Videos

Former CIA officer Laura Ballman argues that drone sightings over New Jersey may be a testing operation by the U.S. government.

As a flurry of possible drone sightings have triggered local politicians to press federal officials for more information, lawmakers have proposed a variety of different methods for dealing with drones.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and U.S. Sen. Andy Kim have both gone out on drone hunts, hoping for answers. The FBI, Homeland Security, state police and other agencies are investigating. Murphy and law enforcement officials have stressed that the drones don’t appear to be a threat to public safety,