House lawmakers voted Tuesday to require the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to create a position for someone to focus solely on drones as the devices relate to national and border security.
Under Rep. Scott Perry’s, R-Pa., DHS Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Coordinator Act, DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen would have to appoint an official to serve as the countering unmanned aircraft systems coordinator.
“H.R. 6438 helps protect Americans from potential terrorist attacks as the use of unmanned aircraft and drone technology becomes more prevalent,” Perry said in a statement following the bill’s committee passage. It was approved by voice vote Tuesday night.
In 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration documented 1.9 million drones in use in the United States. The agency has predicted that number will increase to 4.3 million by the end of 2020, further increasing the chance a bad actor could use the increasingly popular technology to carry out an attack against the U.S. or smuggle narcotics over an unguarded part of the border.
The coordinator would work with other departments to develop plans for how law enforcement should respond to a potential terrorist attack carried out by a drone.
Other responsibilities of the drone coordinator include “promoting research and development of counter UAS technologies” — or killing drones that are trying to smuggle drugs, take pictures, or other improper actions — and getting that information out to agencies with the department.
The official would also serve as Homeland Security’s liaison to federal, state, local, and tribal entities for all drone-related matters. He or she would also consult with the private sector on changes to drone laws.
