New counter-drone rule expands police powers but software gaps remain
The Justice and Homeland Security departments have issued an interim rule that lets certified local police jam drones deemed threats, yet experts warn the supporting software still lacks safeguards.
President Donald Trump’s 2025 airspace order and the FY2026 defense authorization, which included the SAFER SKIES Act, shifted counter-drone authority to state and local police after they obtain certification. The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security implemented this shift with an interim rule effective July 1, requiring extensive training, approved technologies, and a documented C-UAS Operations Plan for each deployment.
While the rule preserves an operator’s judgment, critics say the software must enforce legal boundaries by linking target evidence with verified authority before a jamming command can execute. They caution that relying on human memory under pressure could lead to unlawful actions. The agencies have an opportunity to tighten the design while the comment period remains open until September 4.
Why it matters
Local police can now jam drones, but inadequate software safeguards could lead to unlawful interference.
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