Five US Departments Agree to Give FAA Safety Review of Counter-Drone Systems
The US Department of Homeland Security says it has agreed with four other departments that the Federal Aviation Administration will review the safety of new counter-drone systems. The text of the agreement has not been published.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday, November 9, that five federal departments have agreed to give the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) a formal safety review of new counter-drone systems. The memorandum of understanding also includes the departments of Transportation, War, Energy and Justice. DHS has not released its text. The matter is significant because counter-drone devices, including lasers and jammers, operate in airspace shared with civilian aviation.
What the agreement provides
Under the memorandum, the FAA will quickly carry out safety risk assessments of proposed systems and may add its own measures, such as airspace restrictions, if it judges the risk too high. The signatories will work with the FAA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on technical requirements, field testing and data sharing. The scope covers systems that detect, track, stop or take control of drones. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the deal establishes a consistent process for using such equipment without compromising aviation safety.
The agreement was led by a White House task force that President Donald Trump created in a June 2025 executive order on drone threats.
Lasers and FEMA funding
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said border deployments have shown that high-energy lasers can work safely alongside civilian aviation. In February, two laser engagements in Texas led the FAA to close airspace twice; one affected El Paso and 14 flights were canceled. On April 10 the FAA found that the lasers posed no increased risk to fliers.
The same day, a counter-drone grant forum was held in Maryland. States have until November 16 to apply for the second $250 million round of funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), most of which must pass through to local and tribal agencies. Project selection is expected on December 2 and awards on December 10. Jammers and takeover systems are allowed only for law enforcement and correctional agencies whose officers are trained accordingly.
