Law enforcement tells House task force local agencies need authority to detect and disable threatening drones at major events

At an inaugural House Homeland Security Task Force hearing on security for major events, law enforcement leaders urged Congress to give local and state agencies broader authority and funding to detect and disable threatening unmanned aerial systems ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sheriff Rosie Cordova Stutz of the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, Colonel Robert Hodges of the Louisiana State Police, Chief Stacy Graves of the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis all flagged drones as an urgent emerging threat.

The speakers said inexpensive, maneuverable first-person-view (FPV) drones are proliferating and can be used to launch attacks or create chaos. "FPV drones are an increasing concern at major public venues," Ed Davis said. Colonel Robert Hodges told the task force that "most of the upcoming national events ... are gonna be outdoor and that's the biggest concern with the drones." Chief Stacy Graves said local officers often "do not have the authority to to down and drown," referring to the inability of many local agencies to disable or take down unauthorized aircraft.

The risk is compounded by regulatory limits and uneven access to counter-UAS equipment, witnesses said. The panel referenced Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) limits on beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) waivers and noted that standard small unmanned aircraft operations can go up to 400 feet above ground level while some BVLOS waivers impose 200-foot limits, which complicates local wide-area monitoring. Witnesses also described how detecting, identifying and mitigating drones requires both technology and interagency coordination so law enforcement does not inadvertently interfere with other public-safety aircraft.

Lawmakers and witnesses urged two policy changes: (1) authorization for vetted local and state teams to operate counter-UAS detection and mitigation systems during major events, and (2) funding that covers equipment, training and ongoing maintenance. Representative Carlos Jimenez asked the four witnesses whether, if given authority and federal certification, they would acquire counter-UAS capability immediately; all four said they would, with Colonel Hodges and Sheriff Stutz emphasizing the need to include continuous training and maintenance in funding plans. Representative Crane pointed to a recent Louisiana statute that gives trained state and local officers authority to intercept and disable drones and asked witnesses whether other states should pursue similar laws; Colonel Hodges said his office is finalizing statewide policies and expected to put the law into operational use.

Officials also warned that counter-UAS technology must be paired with investigative tools. Colonel Hodges and Commissioner Davis highlighted the role of modern artificial intelligence in rapidly identifying operators and processing video evidence; Davis cautioned that privacy concerns require negotiated standards before investigative AI tools are widely deployed. Several witnesses recommended embedding federal counter-UAS teams at major host sites to provide airspace security and consistency across jurisdictions.

The task force took testimony but made no formal vote. Members repeatedly urged Congress to move quickly to authorize authority and funding so state and local partners can deploy defensive capabilities before the large international events scheduled in the next three years.