Congress is considering new legislation to bolster national security measures. At a hearing on December 10, members of the House Homeland Security Subcommittees on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement and Intelligence, and on Transportation and Maritime Security discussed the urgency of counter-UAS legislation.
The proposed bill, the Counter-UAS Authority, Security, Safety and Reauthorization Act of 2024 (H.R. 8610), aims to extend and reform existing counter-drone powers granted under the Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018, which is set to expire on December 20.
“This legislation will renew and reform current counter-UAS legal authorities,” said Subcommittee Chairman August Pfluger during his opening statement. “The threats posed by UAS continue to present challenges. A single UAS carrying explosives could potentially cause widespread damage, interrupt services and result in significant economic losses to our homeland.”
The proposed legislation would expand the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) authorities to detect, disable and mitigate threatening drones. It also seeks to empower state and local law enforcement to use approved counter-UAS technologies under a DHS mitigation pilot program, which would allow selected agencies to protect critical infrastructure like airports, power plants and transportation systems.
Additionally, the bill emphasizes addressing risks posed by foreign-made drones, particularly those manufactured by Da Jiang Innovations (DJI), a Chinese company. Pfluger highlighted concerns about “unauthorized data access and systemic vulnerabilities” linked to DJI products, as well as reports of their ties to forced labor.
Chairman Carlos Gimenez discussed the urgency of these measures, especially with upcoming global events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics, saying:
“We must consider all appropriate actions to ensure that foreign adversaries, like the Chinese Communist Party, are not using drones under the guise of legitimate activities to relay sensitive information back to China or other entities that seek to harm the United States.”
Lawmakers stressed the need for bipartisan cooperation to ensure swift passage of the bill and safeguard US infrastructure and public safety against the evolving threats posed by drones.
