New Jersey residents were caught up for weeks in drone mania - as our News 12 newsroom was flooded with phone calls and emails of sightings across the Garden State.

On Tuesday, the nation received an explanation behind the mystery.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took to the podium with a message from President Donald Trump.

It read in part, "After research and study, 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. Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones. In time it got worse due to curiosity… this was not the enemy."

It’s still unclear what that research was for, but according to the White House press secretary, those flights were cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration, as were others that were being flown privately and for recreation.

The mysterious drone activity led to public concern from everyday New Jerseyans, as well as elected officials and law enforcement, who all demanded answers from the federal government.

“The FAA’s lack of transparency regarding the nature of the operation, heightened alarm and created unnecessary anxiety in the community. It led to a waste of taxpayer resources to track and chase down suspicious reports," said Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden in a statement.

In Ocean County, sheriff's officers were on drone patrol after a bump in sightings across the state.

News 12 New Jersey viewers reacted to the White House’s explanation on social media. Most wanted to know more about the research that the FAA had greenlit.

“I believe there are still many unanswered questions. Thousands of my constituents contacted my office to share their apprehensions. The presence of these drones posed serious concerns for our communities, airspace security, law enforcement, and overall safety," said Rep. Tom Kean, Jr.