DEFENSE Act – State/Local Counter-UAS Deputization
Current understanding
The DEFENSE Act is an introduced legislative proposal that would authorize DHS and DOJ to deputize trained state and local law enforcement to detect, track, disrupt, and disable threatening drones at stadiums and other large public gatherings covered by FAA temporary flight restrictions. It contemplates a federal training regime, multi-agency oversight, and an authorized-equipment list, expanding rather than replacing existing SLTT counter-UAS authorities. Status: introduced.
Evidence log
- 2025-02-20 — DEFENSE Act: cross-connection with counter-uas-sltt-spectrum-coordination: The DEFENSE Act would operationalize SLTT counter-UAS authority by deputizing state/local law enforcement, directly building on the spectrum-coordination framework governing how those agencies may use RF-based detection and mitigation equipment. (novelty: 3)