GOP Homeland Security chair: Drone bill a top priority in next Congress

Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, said a bill empowering local authorities to take down drones is a “number one” priority in the next Congress.

In an interview on Friday that he shared Monday, Green said federal agencies were not being transparent on the issue of drones, criticism that follows a high-profile series of drone sightings over New Jersey before the holidays.

“I will tell you that from our standpoint in Congress, passing my drone bill to grant authority to local law enforcement and states to take down drones … it’s gonna be one of my number one priorities for next Congress,” Green told Dan Mandis on Nashville radio station WWTN, which he clipped for a post on the social platform X.

“We know that Chinese nationals have operated drones inside of our country. We still need transparency on this issue and we’re not getting it. My Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act that grants authority to local and state law enforcement to take down drones needs to be passed,” Green captioned the post.

Mass reports of drone sightings, especially in the Northeast, have recently caught the nation’s attention. In mid-December, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FBI, Department of Defense and Federal Aviation Administration released a joint statement in which they said recent drone sightings included a combination of “lawful” drones, other aircraft and stars.

The statement also said that the FBI had received more than 5,000 reports of drone sightings in weeks prior, though only a small fraction merited follow-up.

Last month, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) blocked an attempt by his Democratic colleagues to pass legislation to give resources and authority to state and local authorities to track mysterious drones.

The Kentucky Republican argued that the bill would have widened the government’s powers of surveillance, while he downplayed worries about the drones’ threat to the public.

“This body must not rush to grant sweeping surveillance powers without proper consideration and debate by the committees of jurisdiction,” Paul said.

When reached for comment about Green's plans, the Defense Department referred The Hill back to the Tennessee Republican's office.

The Hill has reached out to the DHS and Green’s office for comment.

In an email to The Hill on Monday, the DOJ said it “declined to comment.”

Updated at 10:40 p.m. EDT

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