HR 2775119th CongressIn Committee

Coastal Drone Surveillance and Interdiction Assessment Act

Introduced: Apr 9, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill, the Coastal Drone Surveillance and Interdiction Assessment Act, requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to study and report on the potential use of drones to improve border security and disrupt maritime or low-altitude drug smuggling along the United States coastline. The assessment must evaluate how effective drone deployment could be, identify risks, and consider the overall potential of such use. The study should examine major trafficking corridors and communities in remote or hard-to-reach areas. The request is a planning and evaluation exercise, not authorization to deploy drones or procure funding. The Secretary must complete the assessment within 180 days of enactment and consult with other relevant federal departments or agencies as appropriate, then submit the findings to specified House and Senate committees.

Key Points

1Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to assess whether deploying drones could improve border security and disrupt maritime or low-altitude drug smuggling along the U.S. coastline.
2The assessment must consider effectiveness, risks, and the overall potential of drone deployment, with a focus on major trafficking corridors and remote or hard-to-reach communities.
3Deadline: completion and submission of the assessment within 180 days after enactment.
4The Secretary must consult with heads of relevant federal departments or agencies as deemed appropriate.
5The bill does not authorize funding or actual deployment; it is an evaluative report intended to inform future policy or action.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies involved in border and coastal surveillance; coastal states and communities along major trafficking corridors that could be affected by drone surveillance and interdiction activities.Secondary group/area affected- Maritime commerce and coastal industries (e.g., shipping, fishing) that could be influenced by drone-based surveillance and enforcement operations; law enforcement at federal, state, and local levels involved in border security and drug interdiction.Additional impacts- Interagency policy development and coordination, potential implications for privacy and civil liberties considerations during future deployments, and the need to address costs, operational requirements, and regulatory frameworks before any actual deployment.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 31, 2025