Prepared Opening Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
Securing the Skies: Law Enforcement, Drones and Public Safety
Tuesday, June 22, 2025

A few months ago, we held a hearing where we heard from state law enforcement officers about the challenges and risks drones can pose when in the wrong hands.

Today’s witnesses are career federal government professionals who are instrumental to keeping our public officials, borders and broader communities safe.

As drone use continues to proliferate, their work grows more and more important.

We all know the federal government can’t be everywhere at once – this was made clear in the last hearing on this topic.

As Congress considers expanding counter drone authorities to appropriately trained state and local law enforcement, the first step to expanding and enhancing counter drone authorities is to ensure that the federal authorities currently in place are meaningfully extended.

This is necessary so that our law enforcement agencies have the proper authority to devote resources to this critical mission.

Drones aren’t going anywhere, and we should embrace the innovation they bring.

But, as with any technology, they can be exploited by those who seek to do harm to others.

Bad actors use drones to smuggle weapons and drugs across our borders, spy on sensitive facilities, commit acts of terror and more.

In 2018, most of us serving on this committee – including myself and Ranking Member Durbin – voted to grant advanced counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) authorities to the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security for public safety functions.

These authorities have been extended temporarily eight times since they were originally signed into law in 2018, which is a testament to their importance.

Congress must ensure that these authorities don’t lapse, and that our law enforcement agencies maintain the tools and resources to defend our communities from those who might use rapidly developing drone technologies to cause harm.

These authorities should be employed by responsible professionals who aren’t afraid of oversight or accountability.

While cartels and other criminal enterprises use drones for illegal purposes without restraint, the government’s authority to mitigate them expires at the end of September.

It’s our responsibility to ensure that law enforcement maintains the tools they need to address these threats.

In 2011, the FBI arrested a terrorist before he had the chance to fly explosive-laden drones into the U.S. Capitol.

We should not leave our crowded stadiums and communities vulnerable to the next terrorist who can purchase a drone online.

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