House Bill Aims to Sustain DHS, Justice Department Authority to Counter Drone Threats

Four House lawmakers have introduced a bill that would reauthorize the Departments of Homeland Affairs and Justice to seize, control or destroy drones that pose threats to the public.

The Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act is the House companion of a Senate bill seeking to provide the DHS and the DOJ with the necessary tools to effectively counter dangerous UAS.

Both agencies were provided the ability to combat hostile drones in 2018 under the Preventing Emerging Threats Act. The existing authorities, however, will expire in September, Nextgov reported.

Besides reauthorization, the new House bill, sponsored by Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, Mike Gallagher, Troy Carter and Mike Johnson, would also allow the agencies to launch a five-year pilot program that would select 12 state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement agencies annually to carry out drone detection and mitigation activities.

The lawmakers also proposed allowing state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement agencies and the owners and operators of critical infrastructure such as airports and stadiums hosting large sports events to use drone detection, identification and monitoring equipment.