COUNTER Act

This measure updates federal rules so the military and the Coast Guard can more quickly find, track, and stop dangerous drones that threaten people or U.S. facilities. It lets the Defense Secretary pass this authority down to combatant commanders and other Defense officials for faster action, and allows support to other federal agencies that already have power to counter drones. It also shields specific tools and procedures used to counter drones from public release under open-records laws.

The bill clarifies which federal criminal and surveillance laws apply to these activities, and states that certain laws do not block Defense or Coast Guard actions taken outside the United States to address drone threats. It extends these authorities and reporting requirements through 2030, updates one date to January 1, 2026, moves the sunset to December 31, 2030, and shifts some reporting from every 180 days to yearly, with reports due through November 15, 2030. It also expands the list of allowed purposes, including protecting non-public Defense facilities, helping officials respond to nuclear, biological, chemical, or explosives incidents, certain other Defense activities, and limited-time emergency responses.

Key points

• Who is affected: Department of Defense, Coast Guard, and the agencies they assist; communities near military or restricted federal sites; drone operators near those areas .
• What changes: Faster delegation to commanders; ability to assist other agencies; protection of sensitive methods from disclosure; clearer rules on which federal laws apply, including for actions outside the U.S.; broader permitted uses like protecting secured bases and aiding in major incident response .
• When: Date updated to January 1, 2026; authorities and annual reporting extended through November 15, 2030; sunset on December 31, 2030.