DEFENSE Act
Sponsored By: Representative Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
In Committee
Summary
This bill would let the Department of Homeland Security or the Attorney General deputize state and local law enforcement to protect flight‑restricted events using limited drone‑detection technology. The power would be focused on stadiums and other sites with temporary or statutory flight restrictions and would come with federal training and oversight.
Show full summary
- State and local officers: Could be deputized to exercise federal air‑protection authority at specified sites after completing training set by DHS or the Attorney General with the Secretary of Transportation and the FAA Administrator.
- Event venues and attendees: Coverage would be limited to three contexts — sites with flight restrictions under the 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act, eligible large public gatherings under 49 U.S.C. 44812(c), and FAA temporary flight restrictions.
- Equipment and oversight: Authorized gear is limited to unmanned aircraft system detection, identification, monitoring, or tracking technologies on a DHS‑maintained approved list. DHS must coordinate that list and oversee use with the Department of Justice, the FAA, the Federal Communications Commission, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Local police could counter drones at events
This bill would let DHS or the Attorney General deputize state or local police to use federal counter-drone powers. Deputies could act only at sites with federal flight restrictions, eligible large public gatherings, or events with a temporary flight restriction set by the FAA. Officers would need training set by DHS or DOJ with the FAA and the Department of Transportation. DHS or DOJ, with FAA and DOT, would oversee how this power is used. Only approved detection, identification, monitoring, or tracking gear could be used, from a list kept with DOJ, FAA, FCC, and NTIA.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
FL • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]
IN • R
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Mills
FL • R
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]
AZ • R
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7]
GA • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Crane
AZ • R
Sponsored 7/22/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov