President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order Friday, “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty,” a sweeping measure designed to counter the growing national security and public safety threats posed by unauthorized and malicious unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones.
The Executive Order, issued from the White House, emphasizes the dual nature of drone technology, acknowledging its potential for innovation and public safety enhancements while directly addressing the escalating weaponization of drones by criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors.
“Immediate action is needed to ensure American sovereignty over its skies and that its airspace remains safe and secure,” the Executive Order states, citing concerns over drug cartels using drones for smuggling and surveillance, the vulnerability of mass gatherings to unauthorized flights, and frequent incursions into critical infrastructure, including military bases.
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A key component of the new order is the establishment of the Federal Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty. Chaired by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA), this task force will review existing operational, technical, and regulatory frameworks to develop comprehensive solutions to UAS threats and recommend implementation strategies.
The Executive Order mandates several critical actions across federal agencies:
Enhanced FAA Regulations: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator is directed to promptly advance rulemaking to restrict drone flights over fixed site facilities, including critical infrastructure. The FAA must also make Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) and Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) readily available online in a format suitable for drone geofencing and navigation systems within 180 days.
Stronger Enforcement and Penalties: The Attorney General, in coordination with the FAA, is tasked with ensuring full enforcement of civil and criminal laws against drone operators who endanger the public, violate airspace restrictions, or use drones to further other crimes. The Attorney General will also regularly propose legislative changes to revise criminal penalties for airspace violations.
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Empowering State and Local Agencies: Grant programs from the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security will now permit state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) agencies to acquire UAS or equipment and services for drone detection, tracking, or identification.
Improved Detection and Identification: Federal departments and agencies are instructed to utilize all available authorities to detect, track, and identify drones and their signals. The FAA Administrator is specifically directed to provide real-time access to personal identifying information associated with UAS remote identification signals to appropriate federal and SLTT agencies for law enforcement purposes, with privacy safeguards.
Guidance for Private Critical Infrastructure: Within 60 days, the Department of Homeland Security and the FAA will publish guidance to assist private critical infrastructure owners and operators in employing drone detection technologies.
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Border and Critical Infrastructure Protection: The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General are tasked with recommending within 90 days whether the nation’s northern and southern land borders, large airports, federal facilities, critical infrastructure, and military installations should be designated as “covered facilities or assets” for enhanced protection under existing law.
Building Counter-UAS Capacity: The Executive Order calls for integrating counter-UAS operational responses into Joint Terrorism Task Forces for mass gathering events and emphasizes the implementation of recommendations for establishing a National Training Center for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems. This center will prioritize training for securing major upcoming national and international sporting events, such as the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
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