SIA Drone Security Subcommittee Applauds Inclusion of Key Counter-UAS Legislation in the House-Passed 2026 National Defense Authorization Act

SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Security Industry Association (SIA) strongly supports lawmakers taking crucial and long-overdue steps needed to address growing threats posed by the weaponization or misuse of drones. In particular, these steps are needed to protect fans attending venues and events as part of the 2026 World Cup, 2028 Olympic Games and America 250 celebrations set to be held in the United States. Key provisions included in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) expand legal authorities for drone detection, tracking and identification and mitigation to trained state and local law enforcement officials and correctional agencies. Enactment of these provisions would be a historic and significant step forward in improving our nation’s security posture, which SIA’s Drone Security Subcommittee has been advocating since the group’s inception in 2023.

This legislation has been championed by many congressional advocates, including House Homeland Security Committee Chair Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D.-Penn.), would help accomplish many of the recommendations of the Domestic Counter-UAS National Action Plan, initiated under the first Trump administration, and more recently the executive order Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty.

“Passing this language as a part of the NDAA will be a crucial expansion of counter-UAS authorities to further enhance the air domain awareness of state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement,” said Brett Feddersen, Chair of SIA’s Drone Security Subcommittee and vice president of strategy and government affair at D-Fend Solutions. “We look forward to continuing our work with Congress and the federal government to implement this legislation and further expand the appropriate authorities to the trained professional security personnel protecting our critical infrastructure.”

The NDAA also contains other key counter-uncrewed aircraft system (counter-UAS) passages, including Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.)’s COUNTER Act, endorsed by SIA, which clarifies authorities for U.S. Department of Defense personnel and allows armed forces that protect sensitive installations within the United States the authority to rapidly detect and mitigate hostile drones, protecting U.S. assets from incursions. SIA encourages the Senate to take up the NDAA and send it to the president to sign it into law before the end of the year.

About SIA

SIA is the leading trade association for global security solution providers, with over 1,600 innovative member companies representing thousands of security leaders and experts who shape the future of the security industry. SIA protects and advances its members’ interests by advocating pro-industry policies and legislation at the federal and state levels, creating open industry standards that enable integration, advancing industry professionalism through education and training, opening global market opportunities and collaborating with other like-minded organizations. As the premier sponsor of ISC Events expos and conferences, SIA ensures its members have access to top-level buyers and influencers, as well as unparalleled learning and network opportunities. SIA also enhances the position of its members in the security marketplace through SIA GovSummit, which brings together private industry with government decision makers, and Securing New Ground, the security industry’s top executive conference for peer-to-peer networking.