Sponsors (2)
The bill strengthens protection of critical space and launch operations by granting authorities power to disable or remove threatening drones and assigning operator liability, at the cost of expanded interference, privacy risks, and potential liability or due-process burdens for drone operators and nearby civilians.
NASA and licensed launch/reentry facilities can disable or remove UAS that threaten safety, reducing collision or interference risks to critical space operations and personnel.
Places liability for damage on the UAS operator, creating a deterrent against reckless or malicious UAS operations near sensitive sites.
Requires coordination with DOJ, DOD, DHS, and FAA and annual reporting, improving interagency oversight and transparency about counter-UAS actions.
Allows federal and private licensees to interfere with electronic communications and use force against UAS, risking property damage, injury, or escalation for nearby civilians.
Permits monitoring and interception of UAS communications without consent, raising privacy and civil liberties concerns for nearby drone operators and bystanders.
Forfeiture of seized UAS to the federal government or local law enforcement may impose costs on operators and create due-process concerns if signage or notice is inadequate.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes NASA and licensed launch/reentry entities to detect, disrupt, seize, or use force against UAS threatening protected facilities/property, makes seized UAS forfeitable, and shifts liability to UAS operators.
Official title: To amend title 51, United States Code, to authorize certain actions to protect certain facilities and assets from unmanned aircraft, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 22, 2026 by Darren Michael Soto · Last progress April 22, 2026
Gives NASA and licensed commercial launch/reentry/testing/manufacturing entities explicit authority to detect, track, warn, disrupt, seize, or use reasonable force against unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that threaten defined NASA facilities or licensed property. It makes seized UAS forfeitable, requires signage warning that such actions may be taken, mandates coordination with federal and local law enforcement and agencies, creates reporting requirements, and places legal liability for damage on the UAS operator rather than the acting entity. Parallel authorities are added for NASA-operated “covered facilities” and for non-federal covered entities holding licenses under the launch/reentry chapter, with similar requirements for coordination, signage, and reporting; seized UAS become government or local-law-enforcement property. The law also clarifies that claims of absolute or qualified immunity do not apply to these actions, while operators are liable for resulting harm.