Ban Military Drones Spying on Civilians Act

This bill, titled the Ban Military Drones Spying on Civilians Act, would prohibit the use of certain military-style unmanned aircraft within the United States to surveil U.S. persons who are participating in protests or civil disobedience. It would bar the use of funds in fiscal year 2026 and beyond by the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and any other executive agency to operate a “covered unmanned aircraft vehicle” for such surveillance. In addition, the bill would require the President to submit an annual report to Congress detailing any use of these covered drones in the U.S., including comprehensive information about each instance, the rationale, timing, the equipment used, whether U.S. persons were surveilled, and how such data was handled or shared. The bill defines what constitutes a covered unmanned aircraft vehicle and clarifies several key terms for oversight purposes. The overarching aim is greater transparency and protection of civil liberties by restricting the domestic use of high-end military drones for spying on protesters, while establishing a detailed reporting framework to monitor any exceptions or novel uses.