During 2024 there were some 350 reported drone incursions at DoD bases alone, with expected increases. Image: Evgeny Starkov/Shutterstock.com
The chair of a House Oversight subcommittee and several other Republican members said there is an “urgent need for legislative reform and operational clarity” regarding drone surveillance over DoD bases and other sensitive federal facilities.
Similar letters to DoD, Justice and Transportation led by Rep. William Timmons, R-S.C., said that “recent high-profile incursions near sensitive military facilities, power infrastructure, and public events suggest that the current framework for domestic counter-drone operations remains fragmented and, in some cases, insufficiently agile to meet evolving threats.”
They noted data from a recent hearing on the issue that during 2024 there were some 350 reported drone incursions at DoD bases alone, which in many cases “appear to reflect coordinated efforts to gather intelligence on sensitive military assets . . . witnesses stressed that the advent of artificial intelligence-enabled drone technologies— capable of autonomous navigation and tracking—amplifies the danger exponentially.”
“The hearing also brought to light severe deficiencies in legal authorities and interagency coordination,” they wrote. For example, base commanders must rely on standing rules of engagement requiring a determination of hostile intent, which is “difficult to meet in ambiguous or rapidly evolving situations,” they wrote, and “detection and mitigation capabilities vary drastically between bases.”
Further, coordination between Justice, the FAA and state and local authorities “improvised and bureaucratically delayed,” they wrote.
They asked the departments for their policies regarding detection, identification, tracking, and mitigation of unauthorized unmanned aerial systems over or near military installations and other federally protected sites; incident reports; internal assessments or strategic reviews; and more.
Key Bills Advancing, but No Path to Avoid Shutdown Apparent
TSP Adds Detail to Upcoming Roth Conversion Feature
White House to Issue Rules on RIF, Disciplinary Policy Changes
DoD Announces Civilian Volunteer Detail in Support of Immigration Enforcement
See also,
How Do Age and Years of Service Impact My Federal Retirement
The Best Ages for Federal Employees to Retire
How to Challenge a Federal Reduction in Force (RIF) in 2025
Should I be Shooting for a $1M TSP Balance? Depends…