Overview

• In 2024 more than 350 unauthorized drones were detected at over 100 U.S. military installations, including a weeks-long swarm over Langley Air Force Base in December 2023.
• On June 26 the House Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs requested policies, agreements and incident reports from the Departments of Defense, Transportation and Justice, with documents due by July 10.
• On June 27 a GOP letter led by Rep. Mike Carey extended inquiries to the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, questioning domestic readiness and the risk of weaponized drones smuggled across open borders.
• Republicans warn that current counter-drone authorities remain fragmented, with coordination between military installations, the FAA, DOJ and local law enforcement described as improvised and slow.
• Lawmakers point to lethal drone operations overseas—including Russian swarms of Iranian-made Shahed-136s and precision strikes in Ukraine and the Middle East—to argue for clearer domestic authorities and stronger mitigation measures.