Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) chaired a recent House Judiciary Committee hearing on the malicious use of drones and other unmanned aircraft (UAs), where the witnesses said the United States is not prepared ahead of major events where drones can be a threat.
Rep. Biggs was the final member of Congress to ask questions, beginning with witness Sergeant Robert Dooley, who is the Statewide UAS / C‑UAS Coordinator within the Office of Emergency Operations, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
"Has a framework been established that clarifies indemnification and liability provisions for law enforcement interacting with drones, other than just general qualified immunity?" Rep. Biggs asked.
Sgt. Dooley said that while a law enforcement toolkit describing approved actions exists, no part of it deals with mitigation and detection, "unless you are one of the four federal agencies," which are the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The Arizona Congressman concluded by noting that the United States has several major events, including the 2026 Olympics, 2026 FIFA World Cup, and 250th Anniversary celebrations, asking if the United States is prepared to deal with potential drone threats.
All four witnesses said that we are not prepared, with D-Fend Solutions' Vice President of Strategy & Government Affairs Brett Feddersen saying that Christmas is the latest by which preparations should be made.
"Well, it sounds to me like we need to get on our horse and get a piece of legislation passed very quickly, as quickly as we possibly can," Biggs concluded.
Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) has previously warned of the drone threat, saying in late July during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing that "the one thing that is keeping me up at night is the one that we keep talking about here, and that is as warfare continues to evolve, the drone threat— and I just do not think that we are ready."
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