FOP to Congress: Law Enforcement Needs Authority to Counter Drones

The Fraternal Order of Police is urging Congress to give law enforcement agencies the authority to stop drones engaged in criminal activity. 

In a letter sent Wednesday, FOP President Patrick Yoes warned lawmakers that tactics and measures need to be updated for drone enforcement, especially when it comes to "large-scale public gatherings, critical infrastructure, and correctional facilities." He specifically called for "robust counter-unmanned aircraft systems (counter-UAS) authorities" to be included in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

A “patchwork” of federal laws has limited authorities when it comes to countering rapidly growing threats from illegal or malicious drone use, according to the union. State and local agencies lack the legal authority "to detect, track, identify, and intercept drones" currently, creating a gap between law enforcement and offenders.

Since 2021, over 3,000 unauthorized drone sightings have occurred near U.S. airports, illustrating "the pervasive risk to aviation and public safety," Yoes said.

"State and local public safety agencies nationwide are grappling with a dangerous and expanding capability gap that leaves communities exposed," he wrote. "Drones are being weaponized at an alarming rate—from smuggling deadly contraband like fentanyl, weapons, and cell phones into prisons, where incidents have skyrocketed from just 23 in 2018 to a staggering 479 in 2024, to disrupting emergency response operations by interfering with firefighting aircraft and medical evacuations, delaying life-saving interventions and endangering first responders"

Along with additions to the NDAA, Yoes said that the union is behind setting up "a nationwide framework" with comprehensive guidelines for officers.  He added that upcoming events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics make it imperative for Congress to establish consistent parameters for facing drone threats.

"We need to address the magnitude of the threat head-on, equipping agencies with the tools to operate effectively while prioritizing safeguards for civil liberties, privacy, and airspace integrity," Yoes wrote. "Anything less would be a dereliction of duty in the face of a rapidly intensifying crisis."

Radar, radio frequency scanners and cameras are counter-drone methods that can help authorities track and neutralize unmanned aircraft systems, StateScoop reports. Drone detection systems, kinetic weapons and other electronic countermeasures are also being developed by the Defense Department.