# 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. Published 2026-11-09 by TGOs. Canonical: https://tgos.io/news/2026/11/09/federal-agencies-set-faa-safety-review-process-for-counter/ 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] 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.[1] 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.[1] It will provide any technical data showing unsafe conditions and recommend ways to reduce risk.[1] 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] ## Why it matters 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.[1] 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