Counter-UAS Authority for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Agencies

Current understanding

To be populated as evidence accumulates.

Evidence log

• 2025-02-20 — DEFENSE Act: DEFENSE Act introduced to authorize DHS and DOJ to deputize trained state and local law enforcement to detect, track, disrupt, and disable drones at stadiums and large public gatherings covered by FAA temporary flight restrictions, with training standards, multi-agency oversight, and an authorized-equipment list. (novelty: 3)
• 2025-03-10 — Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2025: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2025 temporarily extended expiring counter-UAS authorities through April 11, 2025 as part of the FY2025 CR stopgap. (novelty: 2)
• 2025-02-12 — United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025: US-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025 authorizes a bilateral cooperative counter-UAS RDT&E program with Israel, extending federal counter-UAS technology development authorities alongside the domestic SLTT operational framework. (novelty: 3)
• 2026-05-06 — Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility: Related but distinct FAA proposed rule under Section 2209 of the 2016 FAA Extension Act would establish a petition process for fixed site facility operators to obtain UAS flight restrictions over their sites — a preventive airspace-designation approach complementing the SLTT counter-UAS mitigation authorities. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-07-06 — Counter-UAS Authority for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Law Enforcement and Correctional Agencies: DOJ and DHS interim final rule under the SAFER SKIES Act establishes a two-tiered training, certification, and operational framework enabling state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement and correctional agencies to conduct counter-UAS detection, warning, and mitigation operations, with requirements including authorized technology lists, spectrum coordination, airspace approval, real-time ATC notification, mitigation reporting, and privacy protections. (novelty: 3)

Open questions

Related