(NewsNation) — A former senior Pentagon official who led investigations into unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAP, the government’s preferred term for UFOs, is criticizing the Biden administration’s handling of recent drone sightings, saying their assurances of safety lack credibility.

“The federal government is not being honest with the American people,” said Lue Elizondo, who previously ran a secret Pentagon program investigating UFOs. “If these were legally operated vehicles and aircraft, they would not be shutting down military installations because of drone incursions.”

Elizondo’s comments came as President Joe Biden publicly addressed the mysterious drone sightings for the first time, stating there was “nothing nefarious” occurring.

Meanwhile, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., blocked legislation Wednesday that would have given state and local authorities more power to track the aircraft.

Some reported sightings describe objects “the size of an SUV, possibly the size of a school bus,” with capabilities beyond typical recreational drones, Elizondo said on NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.”

He noted that operating multiple sophisticated drones across long distances would require significant infrastructure and resources typically available only to state-level actors.

The administration’s response has shifted notably and quickly, Elizondo said, from claiming no knowledge of the drones origins to describing them as routine aircraft within 48 hours.

The situation has drawn heightened congressional attention, with a classified House Intelligence Committee briefing fueling further questions.

“Why are they having these conversations with Congress and not the American people?” Elizondo asked.

The White House National Security Council maintains that after extensive investigation, the aircraft appear to be a combination of law enforcement, commercial and hobby drones.