Tips pour in over 5,000 drone sightings. Reason to worry? Government says no.

Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on drone sightings for Tuesday, Dec. 17. For the latest news, view our story for Wednesday, Dec. 18.

The FBI has received tips involving over 5,000 reported drone sightings in the last month but thus far says it has uncovered nothing nefarious since the deluge of sightings across the Northeast began fueling concerns about national security and airspace safety.

The Department of Homeland Security, FBI, FAA and the Pentagon issued a joint statement saying the sightings have generated about 100 "tips." The Biden administration has sent advanced detection technology and trained visual observers into the region and has closely examined the tips and technical data, the statement said.

"The sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and stars mistakenly reported as drones," the statement said. "We have not identified ... a national security or public safety risk."

President-elect Donald Trump has joined the outcry of government doubters claiming federal officials are withholding information. But White House national security spokesman John Kirby, speaking Tuesday on "Good Morning America," said the federal government continues to be "honest and transparent" about drone activity.

"After days of going through the various tips, days of looking at analysis, days of increasing our detection capabilities, including visual observers on the ground, we assessed that these drones, these aircraft people are seeing are a mix of law enforcement drones, commercial drones and hobbyists," Kirby said. "We continue to see nothing that indicates a public safety risk or national security risk."

There are more than 1 million drones lawfully registered with the FAA, the multi-agency statement said, adding that thousands of commercial, hobbyist and law enforcement drones lawfully fly every day. The statement said the evolving technology will likely mean the number of drones will grow.

But the statement added that the department understands the concerns and is supporting state and local authorities with advanced detection technology.

Drone sightings prompt worries: But these theories could explain what's happening

Pilots hit in eyes with lasers amid drone chaos

The FBI's Newark office issued a warning about an increase in pilots hit in the eyes with lasers because people on the ground think they see a drone.

FBI Newark, New Jersey State Police and dozens of other agencies and law enforcement partners have been out every night for several weeks tracking down operators "acting illegally or with nefarious intent," the FBI Newark office said in a statement.

The FBI encouraged residents to access websites and mobile apps that show flight paths for manned aircraft, satellites, stars and planets visible on a given evening that can help determine whether people are seeing a drone or something else.

"There could be dangerous and possibly deadly consequences if manned aircraft are targeted mistakenly" as drones," the statement said. "Accurate identification is critical for maintaining safety and ensuring appropriate responses to (drone) activity."

Visual explainer: Are those drone or aircraft lights in the night sky?

FBI concerned that people will shoot at planes

"There is also a concern with people possibly firing weapons at what they believe to be a (drone) but could be a manned aircraft," the FBI-Newark office said in a statement. The FAA says shooting down drones, or any aircraft, is illegal.

Legally, drones can fly day or night as long as they fly within 400 feet of the ground. Pilots and their drones must be registered with the FAA ? and drones must be kept out of restricted airspace around airports and other sensitive locations.

Sen. Rick Scott says government not being truthful

Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott, a member of the Senate Homeland Security, Budget and Armed Services Committees, told FOX Business Network’s "Mornings with Maria" on Tuesday that the U.S. public doesn't trust the Pentagon, Homeland Security or the FBI to provide accurate information. Scott, who wants Chinese-built drones banned in the U.S. because of security concerns, accused the federal government of withholding information from the public ? and from Congress.

"I'm a business guy. If somebody came in and didn't give me information in my company, I would fire them," Scott said. "The federal government does it every day to U.S. senators. They come in, they say stuff and you know it's pure BS or they omit the information. So the American public has completely lost trust. So we have no idea what's going on."

Trump says Biden is withholding information

Trump said U.S. government officials, including President Joe Biden, know more about the drones than they are revealing and are intentionally keeping details from the public. Trump said the U.S. military knows where the drones take off from and where they land.

"Our military knows. And our president knows. And for some reason, they want to keep people in suspense," Trump said Monday at a wide-ranging news conference at his private club Mar-a-Lago, Florida. "I can't imagine it's the enemy, because if it was the enemy, they'd blast it out."

Kirby denied the government was withholding critical information from the public.

? Francesca Chambers

Drones have operating and lighting rules

Drones that weigh less than half of a pound can be registered online, but anything above that weight must be registered for a license through a more traditional FAA process. Drones, like other aircraft, are required to have special sets of lights to make them visible after nightfall.

Drones that are flown at night, defined as starting 30 minutes after sunset and ending 30 minutes before sunrise, must have at least one anti-collision light visible from up to 3 miles away and a flash rate "sufficient to avoid a collision," according to the FAA. Flying a drone for videos or newsgathering requires a drone pilot certificate and adherence to the FAA's Small UAS Rule.

Authorization is required to fly a drone in airspace covered by FAA  temporary flight restrictions, in controlled airspace around an airport and over a designated national security area, military bases, infrastructure or national landmarks.

New Jersey mayor frustrated with lack of answers

Last week in New Jersey, Pequannock Mayor Ryan Herd made national news when he dismissed state and federal efforts to explain away the sightings as "ridiculous," adding that "our government is failing us." Herd later told the USA TODAY Network he saw about 60 drones around the township with two distinct sizes. He compared the smaller ones to the size of a suitcase, while the others were closer in size to an SUV.

Herd said he got no answers from federal officials and he was upset that Gov. Phil Murphy skipped a virtual meeting at which scores of state mayors discussed the issue.

"I wasn't getting any answers. Nobody knew anything," Herd said.

2 men accused in Boston: Officials say they operated drone 'dangerously close' to airport

Two men charged in drone incident near Logan Airport

Two men were arraigned Monday in Boston, accused of conducting a "hazardous drone operation" too close to Logan International Airport. Robert Duffy, 42, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, are charged with trespassing and breaking and entering and were freed without bail pending trial. A third suspect was being sought, police said.

Attorney Michael Martin, who is representing Duffy, called the incident a "timing issue." He told WCVB-TV the case would have gone unnoticed if not for heightened attention drawn to drones lately.

"We've cooperated with everything, there was no report of anything having been broken and quite frankly, if this had been two months ago, it would have been, 'guys, you shouldn't be filming here' and it wouldn't be a big issue," Martin said.

Drone sightings: Timeline of the reports, arrests and calls for answers

Timeline: Mysterious drones appear on East Coast

In mid-November, people began spotting several large drones in New Jersey at night, usually between dusk to 11 p.m. according to the Asbury Park Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. The Morris County Prosecutor's Office in New Jersey says patrolmen from law enforcement also spotted the drones. The prosecutor’s office said at the time that several agencies, including federal and state law enforcement partners, would "coordinate, monitor and investigate the drone activity."

The FAA on Nov. 22 issued the first of two temporary flight restrictions prohibiting drones over the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey through Dec. 6. A second one was later issued on Dec. 4, extending the restriction through Dec. 20.

By early December the interest in drones was spreading to other states. On Dec. 2, residents of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, spot what appeared to be five large drones fly about 1,000 feet high. About 10 days later, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said he saw "dozens of large drones" above his home at night in Davidsonville.

The next day, drone issues forced airspace closures over Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and New York Stewart International Airport, 70 miles north of New York City. Read more here.

? Anthony Robledo

Contributing: Kyle Morel, NorthJersey.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Drones over New Jersey: Latest news as sightings, tips pour in