Congress returned from the Thanksgiving recess with a full agenda. The most likely major bill to advance this month is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA does not appropriate funding, but it authorizes a wide range of national security programs, military personnel policies, and defense-related authorities that intersect with domestic security and interagency coordination.  In addition, the IACP has formally urged congressional leadership to include comprehensive counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) authority for state local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) public safety agencies in the final FY26 NDAA. In a letter to congressional leaders, IACP emphasized that police agencies continue to face increasing risks from malicious or unsafe drone activity but remain restricted by federal statutes that prevent them from taking even basic protective actions.

The letter, available here, outlines the need for a modernized C-UAS framework that authorizes trained SLTT personnel to detect; identify; track; and, when necessary, mitigate drones that pose safety or security threats. IACP also recommended the creation of a national drone-incursion reporting database to improve situational awareness and support coordinated threat detection.

As NDAA negotiations continue, IACP will remain actively engaged to ensure police agencies have the authorities and tools needed to address evolving UAS threats. To read more about IACP’s full set of C-UAS recommendations, you can click here.