WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included a bipartisan amendment from Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI), to combat the threat that small, unmanned aircraft systems (drones) pose to U.S. service members worldwide.

“Small drones can carry lethal explosives and can go undetected by Defense Department technology,” Senator Hassan said. “I heard about this concern when I traveled to Afghanistan last year, and I am glad that the Senate included our bipartisan measure in the annual defense bill to build on the Defense Department’s efforts to combat these drones and protect service members’ lives. I will continue working across the aisle to help ensure that our military has the latest technology to respond to threats and keep our service members safe.”

“While this year’s National Defense Authorization Act has many issues, I am pleased our bipartisan provision that firmly recognizes the authority of the Secretary of the Army regarding counter-drone efforts and oversight within the Department of Defense was included,” Senator Johnson said. “This legislation will work to combat the threats from small unmanned aircraft systems and is critical to protecting our nation’s service men and women.”

The amendment from Senators Hassan and Johnson will recognize and codify the authority of the Secretary of the Army to coordinate counter-drone efforts at the Department of Defense, and requires that the Secretary of the Army complete an overall strategy to combat evolving drone threats by the end of September, and share the strategy with Congress. The amendment also includes critical oversight measures such as requiring the Secretary of the Army to assess any obstacles to the implementation of its strategy and initiating an assessment by the Government Accountability Office on the effectiveness of the Department of Defense’s counter-drone program.

Newsletter