WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) and Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security Chairman Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) delivered the following opening statements in a hearing to examine the full scope of threats posed to our homeland security by unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones.

Watch Chairman Pfluger’s full opening statement in a hearing entitled, “Safeguarding the Homeland from Unmanned Aerial Systems.”

As prepared for delivery:

I would like to welcome you all to today’s important hearing on the threats posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones, to U.S. national security, and the policy solutions that could mitigate these risks. As we sit here today, we are at a critical juncture in the evolution of military technology, commercial innovation, and cybersecurity. UAS have become a transformative force. They have been used in countless positive ways that include revolutionizing industries like agriculture, logistics, and film production, while also improving capabilities for humanitarian relief and law enforcement.

However, as with any powerful technology, UAS have also introduced significant security challenges.  In recent years, the proliferation of UAS both domestically and abroad, has raised serious concerns regarding their potential misuse in criminal activities, espionage, and more alarmingly, in threats to U.S. national security.

From foreign adversaries seeking to exploit UAS for surveillance and intelligence-gathering, to the growing risk of UAS being weaponized to attack critical infrastructure, sports stadiums, our vulnerabilities are clear.

The risk posed by commercial and military-grade UAS in the hands of rogue states, non-state actors, and even terrorist organizations cannot be overstated. There have already been several troubling incidents where UAS have been used to penetrate airspace, compromising not only national security but public safety.

Threats to our homeland can also derive from the manufacturing of products that Americans frequently use. A glaring example is the widespread use of drones manufactured by Da Jiang Innovations (DJI), a Chinese company whose products are deeply embedded in U.S. industries and critical sectors. These systems raise national security concerns, including risks of unauthorized data access and systemic vulnerabilities.

Multiple U.S. departments and agencies have already admonished against or banned the procurement of certain UAS originating in the People’s Republic of China, in recognition of the threats they pose.

Just this past October, reports indicated that CBP is blocking the importation of some UAS produced by DJI due to potential violations of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which is a law that prohibits the importation of goods into the U.S. produced, in whole or in part, with forced labor out of the People’s Republic of China.

We must work to protect U.S. communications equipment, while strengthening U.S. supply chains by ensuring foreign-manufactured technologies that pose security threats, cannot operate in U.S. networks.

The threats posed by UAS continues to present challenges.The U.S. border is one of the most significant vulnerabilities when it comes to this type of threat UAS have already been used to circumvent traditional border security measures, such as fences, walls, and surveillance towers.

UAS have been used to smuggle drugs and weapons across the border and surveil CBP locations for human smugglers to evade detection.

CBP officials have consistently raised concerns that Mexican narco-terrorist gangs are using weaponized UAS only a short distance from the U.S. border.  

UAS also pose a significant threat to U.S. critical infrastructure, including power grids, oil refineries, airports, water treatment plants, and transportation systems.

A single UAS carrying explosives could potentially cause widespread damage, interrupt services, and result in significant economic losses to our homeland.

Additionally, recent events illustrate the diverse roles UAS have played in both state-on-state conflict and asymmetric engagements, such as those in Ukraine and Israel, as well as their use in potential intelligence-gathering operations near sensitive military installations at home and abroad.  

We must learn from these conflicts to help protect our homeland security. DHS and DOJ were given Counter-UAS (c-UAS) authorities as part of the Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018, which became law as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018.

The current authorities provided under the Act are set to expire on December 20, 2024. Over the past several years, DHS and DOJ have used these authorities to engage in activities to protect covered facilities and assets against credible threats posed by UAS, notwithstanding laws such as the Wiretap Act or the Aircraft Sabotage Act, that could otherwise limit such activities.

It is imperative that we not only make sure that the current authorities are extended to protect our national security, but also work together to responsibly reform the current legal authorities that provide federal agencies with critical tools to mitigate credible threats posed by UAS.

I’d like to applaud Chairman Green and Ranking Member Thompson for their bipartisan work, alongside members on T&I and Judiciary for introducing H.R. 8610, the Counter-UAS Authority, Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act of 2024.

This legislation will renew and reform current counter-UAS legal authorities. The legislation will also modify and improve counter-UAS authorities of the Federal Aviation Administration, enhance important protections for the civil liberties of Americans using UAS in a legal and responsible manner, and strengthen public safety in communities throughout the nation.

For instance, the legislation requires DHS to establish a counter-UAS mitigation pilot program under which selected State or covered law enforcement agencies may operate approved counter-UAS mitigation systems and mitigate unauthorized UAS operations on behalf of covered entities at a number of covered sites each.

Today, we will hear from experts in the fields of national security, law enforcement, defense, and technology, who will provide insight into the threats posed by UAS to our homeland, and efforts to address these challenges.  

I look forward to hearing from our distinguished panels today and working in a bipartisan fashion to urgently address these issues.

 Watch Chairman Gimenez’s full opening statement.

As prepared for delivery:

Today, we are examining the growing threats posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, and exploring solutions to better protect our homeland from this evolving technology. 
 
The popularity and accessibility of drones have skyrocketed in recent years. Today, there are more than 880,000 registered drone operators in the United States, with countless others operating drones without proper registration or training. 
 
While many of these operators use drones for legitimate purposes—recreational, commercial, or otherwise—there is an undeniable threat from those who misuse this technology, either through ignorance of the rules and regulations or with malicious intent.
 
Uninformed operators can inadvertently disrupt air traffic or encroach on sensitive areas, creating safety risks that strain our law enforcement and aviation systems. 
 
While uninformed operators present a risk, their potential impact is negligible compared to the dangers posed by nefarious actors with malicious intent.
 
Nefarious actors—including transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), terrorists, and foreign adversaries—can exploit drones to evade traditional security measures, gather intelligence, smuggle contraband, disrupt transportation systems, or even launch attacks on our homeland.
 
The threat from nefarious actors is both real and escalating. Along our borders, drones are increasingly employed by cartels to smuggle drugs and surveil law enforcement operations. 
 
We must consider all appropriate actions to ensure that foreign adversaries, like the Chinese Communist Party, are not using drones under the guise of legitimate activities to relay sensitive information back to China or other entities that seek to harm the United States.
Critical infrastructure, such as airports, power plants, and ports, face growing risks from rogue drones capable of conducting surveillance, causing disruptions, or carrying out acts of sabotage.
 
These risks are not hypothetical—since 2021, the Transportation Security Administration has documented nearly 2,000 drone sightings near U.S. airports, with major airports experiencing drone incursions almost daily.
 
Furthermore, between 2021 and 2022, the FBI reported 235 incidents of suspicious drone flights at or near chemical plants in Louisiana. Similar UAS activity was also observed at oil storage facilities in Oklahoma and natural gas facilities in Texas, highlighting the growing threat to critical energy infrastructure.
 
Beyond our borders, the conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the weaponization of drones in modern warfare. Both sides have employed drones for reconnaissance, targeting, and direct attacks, underscoring the ability to use drones to transform the dynamics of conflict.
 
These lessons, both from domestic incidents and international conflicts, should serve as a wake-up call for us to bolster our defenses against the misuse of drones within the United States.
 
Looking ahead, the stakes will only continue to rise. With major global events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, of which many games will be played in my hometown of Miami, and the 2028 Summer Olympics coming to the United States, we must be ready to confront these threats to safeguard critical infrastructure and ensure the safety of travelers, participants, and spectators.
 
We have a responsibility to defend against drone threats, and the need for action is clear—we must act swiftly.
 
Today’s hearing is an opportunity to better understand the full scope of the challenges posed by drones and to explore innovative solutions to mitigate these risks. 
 
I want to thank my colleague from Texas, Representative Pfluger, as well as my colleagues from the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence, for partnering with us to host this important hearing.
 
Thank you to our witnesses, Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner Jones, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Wiegman, and Assistant Director Wheeler, for appearing before the Subcommittees. 
 
I look forward to hearing about how we can better counter rogue drones, safeguard critical infrastructure, and ensure our policies keep pace with this evolving technology. 
 

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