USCP Empowerment Act of 2025

This bill lets the United States Capitol Police act quickly against unmanned aircraft (drones) that pose a credible threat to people or property at covered Capitol Police sites. They could detect, track, warn, disrupt, take control of, seize, or, if needed, disable or destroy a drone, and they may intercept the drone’s control signals without prior consent when responding to a threat. Any seized drone could be forfeited to the United States, and the Police must coordinate actions with the Department of Transportation and the FAA when air safety or airspace could be affected.

The bill sets privacy rules: intercepting communications only as needed for the operation, keeping related records no longer than 180 days unless specific reasons apply, and limiting what can be shared outside the Capitol Police. It allows sharing threat information (not the intercepted communications) with state, local, territorial, or tribal police when necessary. It also requires written reports to Congress every six months on how these powers are used, privacy protections, any harm caused, impacts on the national airspace, and any new equipment deployed. These authorities do not transfer FAA or DOT powers to the Capitol Police, and vice versa. Some authorities would end on a date tied to existing homeland security law, and the Capitol Police may not run any other drone-mitigation program outside this one .

• Who is affected: Drone operators near covered Capitol Police facilities; people working at or visiting those sites; aviation regulators and nearby law enforcement through coordination and information sharing .
• What changes: Capitol Police get clear authority to detect, disrupt, seize, or disable threat drones; conduct research and training on related equipment; issue rules and guidance with DOT/FAA; and seek forfeiture of seized drones, all with privacy safeguards and oversight .
• When: Reports to Congress begin 6 months after enactment and continue every 6 months; some parts end on a date referenced in existing homeland security law .