White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from President Trump which read in part, "this was not the enemy."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said reported drone sightings that sparked panic in New Jersey last month were drones authorized to fly by the Federal Aviation Administration and “not the enemy.

Back in December thousands of reported sightings cam in from all around New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. There were sightings in other parts of the country as well, and then suddenly as quickly as they appeared they were gone. Now it looks like another surge in drone sightings is taking place again.

The drones seen flying over New Jersey were authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration, the White House said on Tuesday. The drones were seen not only over the Garden State but over other states in November, Fox News reported.

(Gray News) - The drones that flew across New Jersey in recent months were authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “The drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons,” Leavitt said Tuesday.

The unexplained, SUV-sized drones that caused a stir flying over the areas in the Northeast in November and December have returned. As of Sunday, Jan. 25.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from President Trump which read in part, "this was not the enemy."

President Trump said Tuesday that the drone sightings over New Jersey late last year were either authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or were from hobbyists and enthusiasts. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from Trump at her first press briefing that the FAA had flown drones in the area for research purposes.

A full ground stop that halted all air traffic at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Friday has been lifted, but delays are because of weather will continue through midnight, officials said.

The FAA has said that all controllers have to meet tough testing and training standards and go through a lengthy certification process.

This week, the White House's latest revelations involving the ongoing "mystery drone" saga only raise more questions.