Nuclear Defense: Exemptions for Energy Department Drone Operations
This Act exempts the Secretary of Energy from certain prohibitions regarding the procurement and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) from covered foreign entities. It expands the Department of Energy's authority to use drones to protect facilities involved in the storage, transport, or use of special nuclear material, or the production of non-nuclear components for nuclear weapons. Additionally, the Act grants the Secretary authority regarding classified tracking and accounting exceptions.
Key points
The Department of Energy (DOE) is granted an exemption from the federal prohibition on procuring and operating drones from specified foreign entities.
Expansion of DOE's authority to use drones for protecting facilities related to special nuclear material storage, transport, research, and non-nuclear weapon component production.
The Secretary of Energy is granted authority to determine the usage of classified drone tracking and is included in accounting exceptions related to these operations.
Introduced
Additional Information
Print number: 119_S_1762
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Process start date: 2025-05-14