President Donald Trump recently issued two new executive orders: Unleashing American Drone Dominance, which focuses on accelerating drone integration into American airspace, and Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty, centered on bolstering security against emerging drone threats. Both contain pivotal mandates with significant implications for state and local government drone operations.
One directive would expand drone capabilities for public safety, streamlining the process for agencies to introduce beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. That would allow an unmanned aerial system (UAS) pilot to maneuver a drone beyond where they can see it in the sky, as is common with drone-as-first-responder programs, search and rescue operations and disaster response and damage assessments.
The presidential order also taps AI tools to speed up drone waiver processes. In addition, it mandates grants for state and local tech that can detect, track and identify drones that might appear in communities. However, the orders do not explicitly grant state and local law enforcement new authority to take down or disable unauthorized drones.
IN 30 DAYS: AS DRONE POLICY SHIFTS, GRANTS BECOME AVAILABLE
By July 6, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must begin the process of writing new rules to make it easier and more common for public safety drones to fly beyond the operator’s line of sight. The FAA must also start setting up safety rules for those extended flights.
Federal agencies will also start looking at how to better include local law enforcement in joint anti-drone operations, with the attorney general and secretary of Homeland Security directed to explore integrating counter-UAS operational responses into Joint Terrorism Task Forces for protecting mass gathering events.
IN 60 DAYS: REAL-TIME SECURITY DATA FOR DRONE IDENTIFICATION
According to the executive order, law enforcement will get automatic, real-time access to information about drones flying in their area, including who owns them and where they're flying from. Remote ID data will serve as a form of digital license plate that law enforcement can see, potentially making it much faster and easier to figure out if a drone is a problem and where its operator is located.
The federal government will also publish new guidance to help private owners of critical infrastructure, such as power plants or water treatment facilities, learn how to use technologies to detect drones.
IN 90 DAYS: CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR PILOT TESTING
The orders require the FAA to ask state, local, tribal and territorial governments with a private-sector partner to apply to be part of a special pilot program testing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The federal government will choose five pilot tests for advanced drones for delivering supplies or cargo. Selections will be finalized in 2026.
Charles Werner, the director of DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Alliance, a nonprofit organization supporting the use of unmanned systems for public safety and disaster response, told Government Technology in an email that the pilot program will highlight important ways drones can "support public safety’s ability to logistically move heavy equipment, like carrying water or fire suppressant during wildfire operations to extinguish wildfires in early stages."
IN 120 DAYS: STREAMLINED DRONE WAIVERS WITH AI
The FAA will start using AI tools to help them review and approve drone waiver requests faster. For agencies that need special permission to fly a drone in a way that's not standard (such as flying over certain areas or for specific purposes), this change aims to cut down on wait times and red tape.
“The use of AI to assist with waivers will be a huge enhancement to what has been a long and tedious process," said Werner. "The faster waivers are approved for public safety, the sooner responders can save lives.”
IN 240 DAYS: ROUTINE BVLOS OPERATIONS GO LIVE
Trump’s mandate gives the FAA a February 2026 deadline to publish the final rule that officially enables routine BVLOS operations for commercial and public safety purposes. It will grant public safety agencies permission to consistently fly drones far away, even out of sight, for missions such as search and rescue or disaster assessment.
THE FUTURE: A COUNTER DRONE TRAINING CENTER
The new drone rules also call for the establishment of a National Training Center for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems, initially focusing on developing federal and SLTT capabilities for major events.
“A National Training Center for Counter UAS is absolutely needed along with a national certification process for all (federal and SLTT) that will be conducting counter UAS activities, similar to how bomb technicians are trained and certified to ensure that everyone is applying the same procedures,” said Werner.
In addition to all other changes, the new order calls for all federal agencies to prioritize using American-made drones.
