To establish a Department of State Domestic Protection Mission relating to unmanned aircraft system and unmanned aircraft.
This bill would create a "Department of State Domestic Protection Mission" focused on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and unmanned aircraft within the United States. The Secretary of State would have authority to take actions to mitigate credible threats posed by UAS to designated high-risk DOS facilities or assets, including detecting, tracking, warning, hijacking or disrupting control, seizing or destroying the aircraft, and using force if needed. The Secretary would conduct research and testing of relevant equipment, coordinate closely with the FAA and other agencies to protect airspace and safety, and apply privacy protections to ensure civil liberties are preserved. The authority would last seven years and would require semiannual congressional briefings, budget transparency (with possible classified elements), and interagency coordination. The bill emphasizes that these powers are separate from, and not a transfer of, transportation or aviation authority to the State Department.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and scope: Creates a Department of State Domestic Protection Mission to address threats from unmanned aircraft systems to covered DOS facilities/assets within the United States, with a defined set of high-risk targets and a specified timeframe at static locations when protecting personnel and infrastructure.
- 2Authorized actions against UAS: Allows the Secretary of State (and designated personnel) to detect, identify, monitor, track, warn, disrupt control, seize or take control of, seize or confiscate, and even use force to disable or destroy UAS, all in response to a credible threat to safety or security.
- 3Research, testing, and coordination: Requires the Secretary of State to conduct or authorize testing and evaluation of equipment prior to use, and to coordinate with the FAA (and other agencies) to ensure these activities do not disrupt safe airspace operations.
- 4Privacy and civil liberties protections: Mandates that interceptions and access to communications respect First and Fourth Amendment rights, with limits on data retention (generally not more than 180 days unless specific justifications exist) and narrow, enumerated disclosures only.
- 5Oversight, funding, and sunset: Recommends a consolidated budget display to Congress (unclassified with possible classified annex), provides for semiannual briefings to Congress on activities and privacy impacts, and terminates the authority seven years after enactment.
- 6Relationship to other agencies: Clarifies it does not transfer DOT/FAA authority to the State Department, and does not vest DOS with authority already held by DOT/FAA; requires ongoing coordination with FAA, FCC, and NTIA.