U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new Executive Order aimed at tightening control over U.S. airspace in response to the growing misuse of drones by criminals, hostile actors and foreign adversaries. The order, signed on June 6, creates a federal task force and outlines a series of actions to strengthen counter-UAS capabilities across government and critical infrastructure sectors.
The order establishes a Federal Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty, which will be responsible for reviewing current threats and proposing a national-level response. It also directs the FAA to implement new processes to restrict drone flights over sensitive sites, including military bases, large airports, and other critical infrastructure.
Law enforcement authorities at all levels will see expanded access to counter-drone technology. The order authorizes federal agencies to use existing tools to detect, track and identify drones and their signals. It also opens up federal grant programs to support similar capabilities for state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement.
The FAA is instructed to make notices to airmen and temporary flight restrictions freely available online in formats that can be used by geofencing systems and aircraft navigation tools – measures intended to improve compliance and awareness among drone operators.
The order also outlines plans to publish guidance for private infrastructure owners on how to legally use drone detection systems. A risk-based assessment is being developed to identify and designate high-priority protected areas, including U.S. borders and federal facilities.
Another key element of the order is the creation of a National Training Center for Counter-UAS, which would help build capacity for protecting major public events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice have been tasked with exploring how counter-drone operations can be integrated into Joint Terrorism Task Forces during such events.
While the document reiterates longstanding concerns about the use of drones by drug cartels and foreign adversaries, it also places new emphasis on coordination among federal and local entities. The goal, the administration says, is to provide a more unified and proactive approach to securing U.S. skies against the expanding threat of unmanned systems.
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