Council of Governors Letter on Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Dear Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Noem,

As Co-Chairs of the Council of Governors, we write to raise a growing concern among Governors related to homeland defense and homeland security: the increasing threat posed by the malicious use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

Across the nation, we have seen troubling incidents involving drones used for illegal surveillance, smuggling, and incursions over critical infrastructure, Department of Defense facilities, and state correctional institutions. These intrusions not only disrupt operations but also expose vulnerabilities in our homeland security posture.

Governors are on the front lines of this challenge. Yet, in many cases, we lack the clear authority or tools needed to respond effectively. To address this urgent issue, and at the suggestion of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, we plan to convene leaders from across our states to develop and share actionable recommendations. These will be presented for discussion at the Council of Governors’ next meeting on July 2 4, 2025.

We appreciate President Trump’s recent executive orders “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty” and “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” highlighting and working to combat these challenges, and we are committed to working collaboratively with you and our federal partners to confront this threat head-on and ensure the safety and security of our states and the nation.

Sincerely,

CC:

• Mr. Alex Meyer, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
• Mr. M. Roosevelt Ditlevson, Executive Director, Council of Governors