DEFEND Act
Congress Would Require Homeland Security to Publish Annual Drone Terror Threat Assessments, With Public Annex
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Requires the Homeland Security Department to send Congress a yearly report for 6 years on terrorism threats involving drones tied to foreign adversaries.
- The reports must cover how drones could be used to spy, attack people, or damage critical infrastructure, and how tactics from overseas conflicts could show up in the U.S.
- Looks at how drones and parts could be bought, built, smuggled, or hidden in shipping and travel routes that also touch U.S. ports, airports, and land borders.
- Directs Homeland Security to create training and exercises so federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement can spot and respond to dangerous drone use.
- Most of each report would be classified, but Homeland Security must publish a public, unclassified section online, and give Congress a classified briefing within 7 days.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
7 articles
Rep. Crane Leads Legislation Addressing Drone Threats Informed by Overseas Conflicts
Announcement of the DEFEND Act describing DHS recurring UAS-specific terrorism threat assessments, foreign adversary exploitation, and preparedness coordination.
Rep. Crane Introduces Bill to Strengthen Congressional Oversight of Drone Threats
Primary introduction announcement for the DEFEND Act: annual DHS terrorism threat assessments on malicious UAS use, with classified reporting and an unclassified annex.
Rep. Crane Introduces Bill to Strengthen Congressional Oversight of Drone Threats (press release repost)
Repost of Rep. Crane’s DEFEND Act press release detailing annual DHS assessments, classified report plus unclassified annex, and briefings to Congress.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
DEFEND Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(5)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.