DEFEND Act
Sponsored By: Representative Crane
Introduced
Summary
annual, classified assessments of terrorism threats from foreign-adversary unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The DEFEND Act would require the Department of Homeland Security to produce a classified, comprehensive assessment of how UAS tied to covered foreign adversaries and terrorist organizations could threaten the U.S. homeland.
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- Families and public safety: The reports would analyze how adversary UAS could surveil, disrupt, damage, or attack critical infrastructure and civilian targets, including risks from low-cost swarms and UAS used to deliver chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear payloads.
- Responders and planners: DHS would have to deliver the first assessment within 270 days after enactment and then annually for six years, provide a classified briefing to the House and Senate homeland security committees within seven days of each submission, and evaluate counter-UAS tools and lessons from allied conflicts.
- Industry and transportation hubs: The bill would require DHS to review research and private-sector counter-UAS input and publish an unclassified annex on the Department website to share findings and best practices for ports, borders, and other high-risk venues.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Annual U.S. drone threat reports
This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to produce a classified assessment of terrorism threats from foreign-controlled unmanned aircraft systems. The first report would be due within 270 days after enactment and then once a year for six years. Each classified assessment would get a short unclassified annex posted on DHS’s website. DHS would brief the House and Senate homeland security committees in classified briefings within seven days of each submission.
Law enforcement drone response training
This bill would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to create recommendations, training modules, and exercises for Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement on hostile drone use. Training would incorporate lessons from recent conflicts and be developed in consultation with relevant DHS components. The goal would be to help officers recognize, report, and respond to malicious unmanned aircraft systems.
Which drones are covered
If enacted, the bill would define a "covered unmanned aircraft system" by several rules. A drone could be covered if it or key parts were made in a listed foreign country, if its flight controller, radios, cameras, or gimbals come from such a country, if its ground control or software was developed there, or if its network or data storage is hosted or controlled there. The bill would also adopt counter‑UAS and terrorist organization definitions and would drop the usual "safe and efficient operation" test for this section. These definitions could broaden which drones face extra scrutiny or policy responses.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Crane
AZ • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2]
NY • R
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]
TX • R
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5]
AL • R
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5]
TN • R
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Pfluger
TX • R
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov