SAFER SKIES: A Long-Awaited Update to America’s Drone Security Playbook

In this guest Op-Ed, AUVSI President and CEO Michael Robbins explores how the SAFER SKIES Act breaks a years-long policy stalemate and delivers long-needed clarity for public safety agencies. Here, he explains why the new framework strengthens both security and industry growth at a pivotal moment for U.S. drone operations.  DRONELIFE does not make or accept payment for guest posts.

After 7 Years of Stalemate, the SAFER SKIES Act Finally Modernizes America’s Drone Security Framework

By Michael Robbins, President & CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)

Drones are transforming the way we live and work, delivering medical supplies to remote communities, supporting disaster response, inspecting critical infrastructure, and opening new opportunities for public safety and commercial innovation. Their potential to improve efficiency, safety, and connectivity is enormous. Yet as the technology accelerates, the legal authorities to manage unsafe or malicious drone activity have not kept pace. State and local agencies are still constrained by outdated rules, leaving real gaps in security and creating uncertainty that can slow broader adoption.

That’s why the inclusion of the SAFER SKIES Act in the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) marks a long-awaited and significant step forward. For the first time, it establishes clear federal standards for training, certification, technology use, and reporting and oversight, ensuring that state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) agencies can act decisively while maintaining safety and accountability. By defining how agencies may detect and mitigate threats under strict oversight, the law strengthens public safety, protects critical infrastructure, and creates the predictable regulatory environment the drone industry needs to continue growing with confidence.

Key Policy Changes and Why They Matter

The SAFER SKIES Act strengthens counter-UAS capabilities while ensuring aviation safety and accountability. State and local agencies will now have clear authority to respond to credible threats, but only after completing a rigorous training and certification process overseen by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Mitigation actions must use approved technologies vetted by multiple federal agencies—including DOJ, DHS, Department of War, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Communications Commission, and National Telecommunications and Information Administration—and all actions must be reported within 48 hours, with federal oversight preventing misuse.

Funding and operational support are aligned with these authorities. Federal grant programs now enable agencies to acquire both UAS and counter-UAS systems for public safety, while new penalties for unauthorized counter-UAS activity provide a strong legal framework for responsible operations. Together, these measures create a practical, enforceable, and scalable framework for public safety agencies to secure the airspace over their communities.

Why This Is Good for the Industry

For commercial and public safety drone operators, the SAFER SKIES Act is a turning point. Clear, structured guidance on SLTT counter-UAS authority will reduce uncertainty and create a stable environment for deploying both drones and mitigation solutions. Without a security structure in place, it was unlikely that scaling advanced drone operations through a final Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) rule would be given the green light. Further, companies developing detection and mitigation technologies now have a well-defined regulatory framework, enabling greater investment and innovation. At the same time, agencies gain operational clarity, strengthening the overall UAS ecosystem.

Shaping Policy Through Collaboration

The NDAA’s final framework reflects years of collaboration among industry stakeholders, aviation authorities, and policymakers. Since 2019, AUVSI has played a leading role in helping shape U.S. counter-UAS policy. Following the 2018 Gatwick airport drone incident, the association commissioned the Blue Ribbon Task Force on UAS Mitigation at Airports, developing guidance for detection and mitigation that informed later federal discussions. AUVSI also co-chaired the FAA’s UAS Detection & Mitigation Aviation Rulemaking Committee, helping ensure that counter-UAS technologies are integrated safely into the national airspace.

On Capitol Hill, AUVSI provided technical recommendations, published analysis, and testified on how broad detection authorities will enhance airspace awareness, and should be paired with a narrower expansion of mitigation that is targeted, accountable, and transparent. Many of these recommendations, including FAA involvement, standardized training, approved technology lists, and mandatory mitigation reporting were incorporated into the final version of the SAFER SKIES Act, helping make the law practical, enforceable, and reflective of industry expertise.

Looking Ahead

The next phase will be critical. Agencies and industry will work together to finalize training programs, technology authorizations, and compliance and liability frameworks, integrating these new authorities safely into the national airspace ahead of the World Cup in 2026. Combined with federal funding from the Budget Reconciliation package being disbursed through DHS and FEMA, the SAFER SKIES Act sets the stage for meaningful improvements in U.S. drone security posture in 2026 after seven years of inaction.

The SAFER SKIES Act delivers a clear, accountable framework for counter-drone operations, striking the right balance between security, safety, and innovation. It empowers SLTT agencies to act decisively to credible threats and gives the drone industry the confidence to grow, making it a landmark step forward for public safety and the U.S. drone ecosystem. AUVSI is proud that the final language reflects industry input and looks forward to continuing to advance the safe integration of drones into American life.

Read more:

• Senate Version FY26 NDAA Focuses on Supply Side for Small Drones
• NDAA FY 2026: Key Counter-UAS Provisions Explained
• White House Task Force, Industry Leaders Coordinate Counter-Drone Efforts Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

Michael Robbins is President and CEO at AUVSI, the world’s largest organization representing autonomous systems, drones, and robotics in the commercial and defense sectors. With a background in government, military, and industry sectors, Robbins brings extensive experience in advocacy, communications, and strategic leadership. He currently serves as an Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve and holds key roles on influential advisory boards, Michael serves on the MITRE Corporation’s Aviation Advisory Committee and the National Advanced Mobility Consortium’s (NAMC) Advisory Committee. He recently served as co-chair of the Federal Aviation Administration’s UAS Detection and Mitigation Aviation Rulemaking Committee. He previously served on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Aviation Supply Chain Risk Task Force, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency’s Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council sUAS Security Working Group, and on the boards of NAMC and the Greater Washington Aviation Open.