U.S. Attorney General Barr points at ‘new threat from drones to national security

Earlier this week in a statement, the U.S. Attorney General William Barr points at ‘new threat from drones to national security. New guidance was issued to Justice Department agencies on the use of protective measures against unmanned aircraft, including the destruction of any drone that may pose a threat to national security.

U.S. Attorney General Barr points at ‘new threat from drones to national security

After government officials had raised concerns about the potential threat posed by drones, Congress gave new powers in 2018 to Justice and Homeland Security departments to disable or destroy any threatening unmanned aircraft.

The guidelines issued on Monday, โ€œwill ensure that we are positioned for the future to address this new threat, and that we approach our counter-drone efforts responsibly, with full respect for the Constitution, privacy, and the safety of the national airspace,โ€ said Barr in a statement, according to Reuters.

According to the new guidance the FBI, DrugEnforcement Agency, Bureau of Prisons and other Justice Department agencies can intercept communications from a threatening drone or destroy it without prior consent.

The guidelines also explainย how agencies โ€œmay seek approval for the use of counter-drone technologies and request designation of facilities or assets for protection.โ€

Under certain circumstances, the Justice Department agencies may keep records of communications intercept it from drones for up to 180 days.

According to the new guidelines, agencies must work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and conduct a risk-based assessment to examine the impact of the operations on the national airspace before the downing, destructing or disabling of any threatening drones.

the guidelines also add that agenciesย โ€œshould consider and be sensitive at all times to the potential impact protective measures may have on legitimate activity by unmanned aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems, including systems operated by the press.โ€

Currently, more than 1.5 million unmanned aircraft are registered with the FAA as well as more than 160,000 certified remote pilots.

What do you think of these new guidelines? Let us know in the comments below.


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Haye Kesteloo
Haye Kesteloo

Haye Kesteloo is a leading drone industry expert and Editor in Chief of DroneXL.co and EVXL.co, where he covers drone technology, industry developments, and electric mobility trends. With over nine years of specialized coverage in unmanned aerial systems, his insights have been featured in The New York Times, The Financial Times, and cited by The Brookings Institute, Foreign Policy, Politico and others.

Before founding DroneXL.co, Kesteloo built his expertise at DroneDJ. He currently co-hosts the PiXL Drone Show on YouTube and podcast platforms, sharing industry insights with a global audience. His reporting has influenced policy discussions and been referenced in federal documents, establishing him as an authoritative voice in drone technology and regulation. He can be reached at haye @ dronexl.co or @hayekesteloo.

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