White House Official: Drone and Counter-Drone Security Is a National Priority

Sebastian Gorka, Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the White House National Security Council, said on November 9 that drone and counter-drone security has become a major priority for the US administration. He spoke at the Drone Security and SLTT Grant Forum at the MGM National Harbor in the United States. The event was organized by DRONERESPONDERS and the Commercial Drone Alliance and drew government officials, public safety leaders and industry representatives. The topic matters because large events requiring airspace protection are coming up in the US in the next few years.

Airspace as part of sovereignty

In a conversation with Commercial Drone Alliance CEO Lisa Ellman, Gorka said attention to drones began with the first National Security Council meeting of President Donald Trump's second term. That meeting also covered unidentified drone activity near Bedminster, New Jersey. He argued that national sovereignty extends beyond land borders to the airspace above them. He described drone detection, identification and counter-UAS capabilities as core elements of national security.

The role of local police

Gorka stressed that federal agencies cannot deal with drone threats alone, and that state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) law enforcement must be involved. He named the FIFA World Cup, America's 250th anniversary celebrations and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as events needing coordinated airspace security. In his view, local officers are the most likely to be first on the scene of a drone threat at a sporting event or public gathering. He urged agencies to seek federal training and said capacity at the National Counter-UAS Training Center is being tripled. New counter-UAS authorities for eligible SLTT agencies remain subject to specific federal training, certification and operational requirements.

A message to industry

Gorka said the presence of a drone should not fundamentally change how officers assess a threat: a drone posing an immediate danger to life should be treated like any other serious threat. He also pointed to electronic conspicuity, meaning the ability to identify what is flying in US airspace. For industry, he called for higher production and deployment capacity, describing drone and counter-drone technology as both a security requirement and an economic opportunity. He added that the White House intends to work with agencies and companies to remove obstacles to implementation.