Residents of both states have been growing increasingly alarmed over the past month by unexplained bright lights in the nighttime skies and frustrated by a lack of answers.

"This action is purely precautionary; there are no threat to these sites," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced.

The FAA issued a temporary flight restriction for drones over New York City, Long Island and parts of Westchester County. The restrictions are in effect until January 19.

The government may use "deadly force" against the drones if they pose an "imminent security threat," the FAA said in a Notice to Airmen.

The US Federal Aviation Administration imposed a month-long ban on drones flying over critical infrastructure in New York, a day after announcing the same measure for New Jersey.