The long-standing director of the FBI has admitted the agency is using drones for surveillance in American skies.
FBI director Robert Mueller, who took over as the director of the FBI just a week before the September 11 attacks, made the acknowledgment in response to questions from US senators asking about the government’s increasing use of unmanned aircraft.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa asked Mr Mueller if the agency was using drones “for surveillance on US soil”.
Mr Mueller said drones were being used, but said their use was in “a very, very minimal way and very seldom”.
“Our footprint is very small,” he said.
“We have very few and of limited use and we’re exploring not only the use but also the necessary guidelines for that use.”
The FBI later released a statement saying unmanned aircraft were used only to watch stationary subjects and to avoid serious risks to law enforcement agents, saying each use was approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration.