Governors Urge Federal Action to Address Unmanned Aircraft Systems

(Download)

---

Dear Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, Majority Leader Thune and Leader Schumer,

We, the undersigned Governors of the United States, write to express our urgent concern regarding the increasing threat posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to our nation’s critical infrastructure and public safety. The recent incidents of drone intrusions over sensitive sites and high-profile events underscore the pressing need for robust legislative action to address these vulnerabilities and enhance security.

While the use of drones has proven valuable to governments for a wide variety of important purposes, including public safety and law enforcement, disaster recovery, and environmental monitoring, these systems are also increasingly being used for things like espionage, stalking, and other kinds of attacks. The use of both commercial and homemade drones to destroy personnel and equipment in the Ukrainian-Russian War serves as a stark reminder of their lethal potential.

The growing sophistication of these systems and devices highlights the urgency of addressing certain vulnerabilities within our own borders. While counter-drone capabilities are advancing, the technology lags behind the rapid evolution of UAS technology. This gap necessitates immediate legislative and financial support to ensure states can effectively protect against these threats. In our states, we have witnessed numerous drone intrusions over critical infrastructure, public events, prisons, and military bases.

We commend President Trump for his recent executive orders addressing these critical issues. Specifically, Executive Order 14305, “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty,” which established a Taskforce to review operational, technical, and regulatory frameworks and proposes solutions to address UAS threats, as well as Executive Order 14307, “Unleashing American Drone Dominance.” However, we believe that more must be done to ensure states have the express legal authority and capability to detect and mitigate drone activity over critical infrastructure and major events.

We urge Congress to enact legislation that strengthens and clarifies the coordination between federal and state authorities, enhancing states’ capacity to detect and mitigate UAS threats while recognizing our inherent duty to protect our citizens and vital infrastructure. This is imperative; Congress cannot wait for a catastrophic event to occur before taking action. Further, we urge Congress to legislatively grant states explicit legal authority, similar to that of the federal government, to detect and mitigate UAS threats. This clarity is essential for effectively safeguarding our citizens and critical infrastructure.

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. We look forward to working with you to ensure the safety and security of our nation.

Sincerely,

CC:

• The Honorable Pete Hegseth, Secretary, U.S. Department of Defense
• Mr. Alex Meyer, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs