Budget · Counter-drone
Federal agencies set FAA safety review process for counter-drone systems
An agreement among five departments connects counter-drone development and deployment with FAA safety assessments, technical requirements and shared testing data.
Five federal departments have established an interagency process to evaluate and deploy counter-drone technologies, with the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct safety risk assessments of proposed systems.1
FAA will quickly review and conduct safety risk assessments of proposed systems
interagency process to evaluate counter-drone technologies
technical requirements, field testing, and data sharing to help safely introduce new counter-drone systems
conduct safety risk assessments of proposed systems to make sure safety protocols and airspace deconfliction measures are adequate
If the FAA believes additional risk mitigation is needed it can implement its own protective measures, including restricting airspace.
Source: Department of War. As of November 9, 2026.
Sources
Under the agreement, participating agencies will work with the FAA and Federal Communications Commission when developing new systems that detect, track, stop or take control of dangerous or unauthorized drones. They will collaborate on technical requirements, field testing and data sharing to help introduce those systems safely.1
The Departments of Transportation, War, Homeland Security, Energy and Justice announced the effort under a memorandum of understanding led by the White House Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty.1
Under the agreement, the FAA will review proposed systems and conduct safety risk assessments to check whether safety protocols and airspace deconfliction measures are adequate. It will provide any technical data showing unsafe conditions and recommend ways to reduce risk. If the FAA considers further risk mitigation necessary, it can implement its own protective measures, including restricting airspace.1
The effort builds on a temporary flight restriction along the southern U.S. border and a completed safety assessment of the Department of War’s high-energy laser counter-drone system.1
Participating agencies will consider Transportation Department, FAA and Federal Communications Commission requirements and any testing data when researching, developing, testing, evaluating or assessing new counter-drone systems the agencies develop. The announcement promises quick FAA reviews but gives no schedule for the process.1
Sources (1)
- War.gov: Trump Administration Deepens Interagency Collaboration to Protect the Nation's Skies From Unmanned Threats www.war.gov