Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs Chairman William Timmons, along with Republican members of the panel, are investigating the federal government's approach to drone incursions at U.S. military bases and sensitive sites. They have reached out to Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for documents and communications regarding counter-unmanned aerial systems (cUAS) within the United States.
"The Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs is continuing to investigate how the federal government addresses drone incursions on U.S. military installations and sensitive sites," stated the lawmakers. They noted recent high-profile incidents near military facilities, power infrastructure, and public events that suggest existing frameworks for domestic counter-drone operations are fragmented and not agile enough for evolving threats.
On April 29, 2025, a hearing titled "Securing the Skies: Addressing Unauthorized Drone Activity Over U.S. Military Installations" was held by the subcommittee. The session highlighted an urgent national security threat with more than 350 drone incursions detected at 100 different military installations in 2024 alone. Witnesses emphasized that AI-enabled drones capable of autonomous navigation significantly increase this danger. The hearing also exposed deficiencies in legal authorities and interagency coordination.
The lawmakers further stated their need for "documents and information concerning the federal government’s authorities and operational posture for countering unmanned aerial systems (cUAS) within the United States," focusing on discrepancies between unmanned versus manned aircraft under current law and policy.
