Executive Orders Signal a New Era for Drone Security in the U.S.

On June 4, The Washington Post ran a headline that stopped a lot of people in their tracks: “A drone strike devastated Russia’s air force. The U.S. is vulnerable, too.”

It wasn’t just clickbait—it was a wake-up call. Energy plants, airports, shipyards, and other critical U.S. infrastructure are increasingly at risk from attacks using drones, especially those operated by criminals or foreign adversaries.

Just two days later, the President took action. He signed two sweeping executive orders aimed at regaining control of American airspace and confronting growing drone threats head on.

Whether you manage critical infrastructure, oversee public safety, or lead threat response for your organization, these changes make it clear: drones are no longer a fringe issue—they’re an active threat that should be on every security leader’s radar.

Inside the U.S. plan to tackle drone threats

These orders aren’t just symbolic—they lay out a serious plan to secure U.S. skies from unwanted or dangerous drones. Key provisions include:

• Federal airspace task force: A new group will lead national efforts to defend U.S. airspace from criminal and adversarial drone use.
• Expanded no-fly zones: The FAA will establish new restrictions to keep drones from flying over critical sites like airports, military bases, and power plants.
• Stronger enforcement: Violators will face sharper civil and criminal penalties, especially those operating near sensitive areas.
• Funding for detection and tracking: Federal and local agencies will now get funding and legal backing to deploy drone detection and tracking technology.
• Private sector protection: Critical infrastructure owners—like energy companies and data centers—will receive new federal guidance on implementing drone defense.
• Major event safeguards: A National Counter-UAS Training Center will prepare public safety teams to defend major events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.

Why is this happening now?

Drones are no longer just tools for hobbyists or military operations. Cheap, off-the-shelf drones are widely available and evolving rapidly, making them a growing national security issue. From prison drops and border surveillance to espionage and outright attacks, the examples aren’t rare anymore—they’re multiplying. And every passing month without action leaves our critical infrastructure, supply chains, and public events more exposed.

While security leaders have been sounding the alarm for years, these executive orders signal that the federal government is getting serious about protecting our airspace—not just from accidents, but from real threats. As Michael Kratsios, a White House tech advisor, put it: "With large-scale public events such as the Olympics and the World Cup on the horizon, taking action on airspace security has never been timelier."

You can’t protect what you can’t see, and without reliable drone defense, every critical site is effectively flying blind. The good news? The technology already exists to monitor the skies, identify threats, and respond before they become incidents.

Drone detection is the first line of defense

The federal response is long overdue—but for security teams on the ground, waiting for new policies isn’t a strategy. Staying ahead of drone threats requires visibility, context, and the ability to act quickly. That starts with drone detection.

When a drone enters your airspace, you need answers: What kind of drone is it? Where did it launch from? How long has it been flying? Has it been here before?

SkySafe’s cloud-based drone detection software provides that visibility. It identifies drones in real time, tracks flight paths, and surfaces detailed drone data. This intelligence empowers agencies and organizations to take control of their airspace, providing the tools they need to detect, identify, and neutralize drone threats.

The state of Rhode Island put this into practice after a drone hovered just six feet above a crowd of 10,000 at the Newport Jazz Festival. What started as a tactical deployment quickly evolved into a statewide drone detection strategy. SkySafe now enables airspace monitoring across more than two dozen cities, logging over 30,000 drone flights in just the first year. The result: faster response, stronger enforcement, and better coordination across local, state, and federal agencies.

Turning policy into preparedness

The executive orders signal a significant shift in national airspace policy, but change at the federal level takes time. In the meantime, it’s up to security leaders to evaluate their exposure and take steps now to protect their airspace.

Industry groups like the Commercial Drone Alliance—where our CEO Grant Jordan serves—are helping shape this next chapter, pushing for policies that balance innovation with public safety. That includes clearer rules for drone operations and support for helping responsible drone businesses grow in the U.S.

Drones are here to stay. What matters now is how we manage them, making sure they’re used responsibly—and ensuring we’re prepared for the ones that aren’t.

How prepared are you to detect and respond to drone threats? Schedule a demo to see how SkySafe can help.