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ARTICLE · 22 JULY 2026

Latest FCC, DOJ, DHS Actions On Drones Indicate An Increased Focus On National Security

Holland & Knight
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The Trump Administration has intensified its focus on drone security through coordinated federal actions in July 2026, expediting counter-drone capabilities for state and local governments while simultaneously strengthening prohibitions against foreign-produced unmanned aircraft systems. These sweeping regulatory changes mark a significant expansion of national security measures affecting the entire UAS marketplace.

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Katie Inman
Katie Inman
Shiva Goel
Shiva Goel
Bill LeBeau
Bill LeBeau
Christopher M. Jaarda
Christopher M. Jaarda
Elizabeth Perry
Elizabeth Perry
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Highlights

  • National security remains at the top of the Trump Administration's drone agenda as shown by coordinated federal actions released in July 2026.
  • The U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) moved in concert to 1) expedite access to counter unmanned aircraft system (UAS) technologies by state, local, Tribal and territorial governments under the SAFER SKIES Act and 2) strengthen and expand prohibitions against the importation and sale of foreign-produced UAS and UAS critical components previously determined to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security.

July 2026 has been one of the most active months yet for regulatory actions affecting the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) marketplace – and the clear theme has been national security.

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