The recent presidential executive orders regarding drones, Advanced Air Mobility, and counter-unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are critical steps in sending a strong leadership message with a roadmap for innovation. This framework will extend the operational range of drones and the benefits of autonomous flight, while establishing robust defenses to counter drones and UAS used for nefarious intent.
As summarized by Mark Bathrick, former Director of Aviation for the Department of the Interior and the originator of DOI’s drone fleet, the Executive Order titled “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” focuses “on advancing U.S. drone capabilities by accelerating integration into the National Airspace System, supporting domestic manufacturing, streamlining regulatory processes, and promoting American drone exports. It mandates swift regulatory updates to enable Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, deploy AI-assisted waiver approvals, establish an electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) pilot program, strengthen the American drone industrial base, and prioritize U.S.-made drones in defense procurement. Additionally, it directs agencies to secure supply chains from foreign risks and expand market access for American drone technology.“
The Executive Order titled “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty” focuses “on protecting U.S. airspace from threats posed by UAS, especially unauthorized drone operations by criminal organizations, terrorists, and foreign actors. Key provisions include:
- Federal Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty
- Stricter Airspace Restrictions
- Enhanced Detection & Tracking of Drones
- Stronger Enforcement Against Illegal Drone Operations
- Protection of Mass Gatherings & Large Events
- Counter-UAS Capacity Building
- Improved Airspace Notifications
- Risk-Based Assessment for Airspace Protection.“
A key element of this order is the rapid process outlined for the issuance of the long-awaited Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) BVLOS (Part 108) Rule, which will allow for more flexibility and foster the acceleration of autonomous flight without the need for individual waivers for public safety and every relevant vertical. This will lead to innovation, commercialization, workforce development, and a new era of drones. Implementing artificial intelligence (AI) will accelerate the ability of sectors to obtain necessary waivers more quickly and operationalize many new drone operations.
Strengthening the American drone industry is an important aspect to help American drone companies be competitive in the areas of cost and capability. Ideally, this will be accompanied by federal subsidies to help level the playing field for American companies.
The counter-drone aspect will align federal agencies and give direction toward a National Counter-UAS Training Center. This, along with grant funding for state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) law enforcement, is very important in establishing a standardized approach, similar to how bomb technicians are trained, as well as ensuring funding to carry this forward. However, effective counter-UAS will require Congress to provide advanced detection and eventually mitigation authorities to SLTT entities to address the threats that are already in the U.S., such as contraband dropped into prisons and the cartel use of drones. A previous article in HSToday provides more insight into these threats.
As of April 2025, the FAA reported more than 100 sightings of UAS near airports each month, which can pose significant security risks. In February, the Federal Air Marshal Service began its first certification program for Federal Air Marshals to operate drones at airports to help safeguard that vulnerability within aviation security. However, with drones accounting for nearly two-thirds of reported midair collisions, this is one of many threats – alongside surveillance and espionage, weaponization and payload delivery, cyberattacks, terrorist attacks, etc. – that need to be addressed within the counter-UAS framework.