At Eleventh Hour, Defense Department Raises Concerns About ROTOR Act

House of Representatives will discuss the air safety legislation this week.

Zach Vasile

Monday, February 23, 2026 at 05:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A U.S. Army Black Hawk flies over Washington, D.C. [Credit: Nicholas Priest/U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Defense Department opposes the ROTOR Act, citing concerns about significant budgetary burdens and operational security risks for national defense activities, despite supporting the bill's intent to enhance air safety.
The ROTOR Act was introduced following a deadly collision involving a civilian jet and a military helicopter, aiming to mandate ADS-B navigation technology for both civilian and military aircraft and narrow exceptions for military helicopters flying without broadcasting their position.
Passed by the Senate and awaiting a House vote, the ROTOR Act has support from the NTSB, the airline industry, and crash victims' families.
An alternative, the ALERT Act, proposed by some House Republicans, has been criticized by pilot unions for not mandating ADS-B In technology, unlike the ROTOR Act.

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The U.S. Defense Department on Monday came out against the ROTOR Act, just hours before it was to be taken up by the House of Representatives.

In a statement, defense officials expressed appreciation for the work of the bill’s backers, most notably Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, but voiced misgivings about the potential impact on military helicopter operations.