Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act

This bill updates and extends the government’s tools to detect and stop dangerous drones. The FAA can track, warn, take control of, or disable drones that threaten safety, and it can test counter-drone tools to be sure they don’t harm normal flight operations. It also adds privacy rules and operator training for anyone allowed to use these tools. Most of these powers end on October 1, 2030 unless renewed.

It sets clear rules for airports, major events, and some state and big‑city police. Airports get a national plan within a year and must create site‑specific playbooks with federal and local teams, but they cannot be forced to buy these systems . Event and site operators can apply to use detection gear, and a pilot program lets selected state or large‑city police use approved tools to stop rogue drones at certain sites and events . There’s a special program for the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, and only a small number of agencies and locations can join at first. To protect people’s rights and air safety, the bill requires regular audits and reports to Congress, sets training standards, keeps a government list of approved tech (and bars some foreign‑made systems), and lets the FAA pause any use that threatens the airspace. Approvals can be revoked if safety or privacy rules aren’t followed . For everyday users, new drones must show a safety rules notice the first time you activate them, and you must acknowledge it.

• Who is affected:
  • Airports; stadiums and other large events; state and large‑city police (in areas with 650,000+ people); and drone users and manufacturers .
• What changes:
  • FAA can detect and disable threatening drones and test counter‑drone tools.
  • Event or site operators can apply for detection gear; agencies must decide within 45 days (90 with a waiver), and approvals can be revoked for safety or privacy violations .
  • Police pilot starts small (up to 5 agencies, limited sites) and can expand after 18 months; special coverage for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
  • Airports get a national plan and site‑specific playbooks; they can’t be required to buy systems .
• When:
  • Airport plan due within 1 year; application process opens within 180 days; decisions in 45/90 days; sports program within 60 days; most powers end October 1, 2030 .