Enhanced Authority to Counter Drone Threats Near Critical Facilities.
This act significantly expands the power of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to detect, track, and neutralize unauthorized drones posing a threat to critical infrastructure, federal facilities, and special events. Federal agencies, and potentially designated state and local police through a pilot program, can now actively disrupt, seize, or even destroy threatening unmanned aircraft systems. The law includes specific requirements for coordinating with the FAA and strict privacy safeguards for intercepted communications.
Key points
Federal agencies (DHS/DOJ) are authorized to disable, seize, or destroy drones posing a credible threat to protected facilities like airports, federal buildings, and Secret Service protection areas.
A pilot program allows up to 60 designated state and local law enforcement agencies to use these full mitigation authorities under federal oversight over five years.
All actions, including the use of technology that disrupts radio signals, must be coordinated with the FAA to ensure aviation safety and prevent interference with the national airspace system.
Strict privacy rules mandate that intercepted drone communications generally cannot be retained for more than 180 days unless required for legal proceedings or investigations.
Expired
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