U.S. Governors Request Federal Assistance to Counter Drones

Letter urges the expansion of mitigation authority to state and local law enforcement.

Jack Daleo

Friday, September 12, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Jack Daleo

Drones increasingly pose a threat to critical infrastructure and public safety, governors say. [Courtesy: iStock]

Key Takeaways:

Over 30 U.S. governors are urging Congress to enact stronger counter-drone measures, including granting states the authority to detect and mitigate unauthorized uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), citing a surge in incidents near critical infrastructure, airports, and public events.
Current federal C-UAS authority is limited to specific agencies, leaving states with insufficient power to address rising drone activity, which has led to numerous unauthorized flights and increased near-midair collisions with crewed aircraft.
Several legislative proposals are underway to expand C-UAS authority to state and local law enforcement, while future FAA regulations are anticipated to further increase drone operations, escalating the urgency for robust countermeasures.

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A group of more than 30 U.S. state and territorial governors is calling on Congress to enact stronger counter uncrewed aircraft system (C-UAS) measures amid a spate of drone sightings reported near airports, public events, and military installations.

There are more than 1 million drones registered with the FAA, a number that has spiked in recent years. Under an interagency agreement that lays out federal C-UAS authority, only the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Justice (DOJ) can mitigate unauthorized drones, and only in certain cases.