Legislation would direct GAO to study law enforcement drone and counter-drone use and assess gaps in authority, cost and privacy protections.

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez has introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at examining how law enforcement agencies across the country use drones and counter-drone technology, citing growing concerns raised by New Mexico agencies about public safety and national security.

The Secure Our Skies Drone Safety Act would direct the Government Accountability Office to produce a report for Congress detailing how federal, state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies deploy drones and counter-drone systems, as well as what legal authorities, policies and safeguards govern their use.

According to Vasquez’s office, the legislation was prompted in part by concerns discussed during an August public safety roundtable in Albuquerque, where law enforcement officials raised alarms about the increasing use of criminal drones for surveillance in New Mexico airspace, stretching from the southern border to the Albuquerque area. Officials also cited limited authority to counter drones, including in sensitive Department of Defense airspace near White Sands Missile Range.

Vasquez said the bill is designed to help law enforcement keep pace with rapidly evolving threats while ensuring legal clarity and accountability.

“Bad actors are rapidly innovating and increasing their use of drones to chip away at our public safety and national security,” Vasquez said in a statement. “But we won’t let them win. I’m proud to be introducing this bill to equip our law enforcement officers with the tools and authorities they need to keep pace.”

The GAO report mandated by the bill would examine how frequently law enforcement uses drones, what purposes they serve, whether operators are trained or certified, and what privacy protections exist for the public. It would also assess procurement trends, including the use of foreign-manufactured drones, and identify barriers agencies may face in obtaining domestically produced or non-adversarial technology.

The bill is co-led by Rep. Jen Kiggans, a Virginia Republican, and has received support from the Fraternal Order of Police. Patrick Yoes, the organization’s national president, said unmanned aircraft systems have become an increasingly important tool for law enforcement, particularly for search-and-rescue operations and border security.

Vasquez’s office said the legislation builds on other recent efforts to address drone threats, including a letter sent earlier this month to the departments of Defense, Justice, Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration urging clearer federal guidance for law enforcement. Vasquez also recently co-sponsored bipartisan language expanding the Department of Defense’s counter-drone authority at military installations, including secured bases such as White Sands Missile Range, which is expected to be included in the final Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.

Organ Mountain News contacted the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico for comment and did not receive a response by publication time.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.