This is actually not an Asian Giant Hornet but rather a European Hornet, a species which has been established in the eastern U.S. for roughly a century. Queens are often seen this time of year as they explore potential nest sites; old nests are not re-used from year to year, and each spring a new queen starts a new nest by herself, so they're fairly active. We tend to get a lot of reports of hornet sightings in late spring, and because of the dismayingly sensationalist news coverage of the Asian Giant Hornets, they often get misidentified.

Miri