California officials are monitoring a reported threat of drone attacks directed at the West Coast, Governor Gavin Newsom said Wednesday, confirming the state has been briefed on related information.
At a press briefing, Newsom said the state had received the relevant intelligence and that agencies are working together to assess and respond. "As it relates to drone strikes we’ve been aware of that information," he said, adding that "We’ve been working collaboratively" through the state operations center.
The governor underscored that concern over drones has been a recurring priority for state planners. "Drone issues have been always top of mind and we’ve assembled some work groups specifically around those concerns," he said, describing an organized internal response focused on the potential risks that the reported warning raises.
Separately, ABC News reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had issued warnings to police departments in California, saying that Iran may seek to retaliate for prior attacks by launching drones on the West Coast. The Newsom administration's comments followed those media reports, with state officials indicating they are coordinating through established emergency channels.
Operational response
Newsom described an active, coordinated posture at the state level. The state operations center, he said, has been a focal point for information sharing among agencies and for organizing the work groups tasked with examining drone-related threats and mitigation options.
Public posture
The governor’s public remarks aimed to acknowledge the reported warning while signaling that state authorities were engaged and taking steps to prepare for potential developments. Beyond confirming awareness and interagency coordination, Newsom did not provide additional operational details during the press conference.
What remains unclear
- The press briefing and the media report identified the existence of a warning and the state’s response, but did not specify particular targets, timelines, or operational adjustments that might be undertaken.
- Officials have described work groups and coordination channels, yet no further operational specifics were released at the time of the governor’s remarks.