Eli Crane Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill Enhancing National Guard Response to Drones

Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) is cosponsoring a bipartisan bill introduced by Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX) that authorizes the National Guard to counter threats posed by drones.

Specifically, the Guard the Skies Act grants the National Guard authorization to counter drones, without relinquishing governors' control over their states' forces.

In addition to this bill, Reps. McCaul and Crane wrote a letter to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, urging the deployment of the National Guard at the 2026 FIFA World Cup to help guard against potential malicious drone activity.

"From foreign adversaries to transnational criminal organizations, hostile actors have increasingly adopted drone technology to target critical infrastructure and innocent civilians," said Rep. McCaul in his press release, adding, "As the United States prepares to host millions of visitors for the FIFA World Cup, America250 celebrations, and eventually the Olympics, we must be prepared to intercept and neutralize this evolving threat."

Similarly, Rep. Crane said, "As America prepares to host major global events, including the World Cup and the Summer Olympics, we cannot afford any gaps in our deterrence posture. I'm honored to co-lead the Guard the Skies Act, which authorizes the National Guard to help protect critical facilities and events from hostile or unauthorized unmanned aircraft."

The two Democrats cosponsoring the bill are Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ).

Crane previously discussed the threat posed by drones throughout 2025, arguing in July that the World Cup and Olympics should be held in roofed stadiums.

Later that same month, the Arizona congressman said that the United States' apparent lack of readiness in the face of growing drone threats "keeps [him] up at night" and that "I just do not think that we are ready."

In December, Crane introduced the Detecting and Evaluating Foreign Exploitation of Novel Drones (DEFEND) Act, which amends the 2002 Homeland Security Act to require annual terrorism threat assessments on the usage of drones.