SHIELD U Act

This bill would let airport security and local police find and stop drones that threaten safety at or near airports, and also anywhere in their state. On airport property, federal homeland security, the airport’s own police, and local police can act, but only with the airport operator’s consent; off airport property, state and local police can do this within their own areas. All actions must still respect constitutional rights. The FAA must set up a quick warning system to alert pilots and drone operators if counter‑drone work is happening in an area .

The bill also builds a safety plan around these actions. Airports must update their emergency plans to add a drone response plan, bring together key partners (FAA, homeland security, airlines, general aviation, local police, and telecom providers), set threat levels, name first responders, and use signal‑disrupting tools only when truly needed and for a short time. Federal agencies would share best practices, allow certain purchases with airport grants, and train federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private security teams on counter‑drone tactics. It lets police and airport law enforcement use certain tools, in consultation with the FCC, that can intercept or cut a drone’s control signal (this is normally restricted). States keep their traditional police powers to handle urgent threats .

Key points

• Who is affected: airport operators and police, state and local law enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, airlines and general aviation at airports, and drone operators near those areas .
• What changes: allows finding and stopping dangerous drones on and off airport property; sets up testing areas (including by private groups); and requires consultation with federal communications agencies when using or testing signal‑disrupting tools and notice when they’re used .
• Tools and contracts: creates an exception so police and airport law enforcement can use certain jamming tools with FCC consultation; lets key federal departments contract for counter‑drone tech; and asks the federal budget office to share recommended vendor and equipment lists each year .
• Airport planning and funding: airports must form a task force and add a drone response plan within two years; airport grants can be used to buy needed equipment; and FAA/TSA will share best practices within a year and update them annually .
• Notifications and safety: FAA will set up an interim process so police can notify the FAA during an active drone threat and the FAA can warn other pilots and drone users in that area; this ends once the national drone traffic system is fully in place.