What Is the SAFER SKIES Act?
A comprehensive guide to the federal law that grants state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies authority to counter unauthorized drones — and the compliance obligations that come with it.
BACKGROUND
The SAFER SKIES Act at a Glance
The Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act — known as the SAFER SKIES Act — was signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. Codified under Sections 8601 through 8607, this legislation represents the first time the federal government has extended counter-drone authority to state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) law enforcement agencies.
Under the SAFER SKIES Act, eligible SLTT agencies may now detect, track, identify, and mitigate unauthorized unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that pose a credible threat to public safety or national security. This authority, previously reserved for federal agencies such as the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, comes with significant compliance requirements.
The authority granted under the Act expires after four years unless reauthorized by Congress.
KEY PROVISIONS
Four Pillars of SAFER SKIES Compliance
Officer Certification via FBI NCUTC
Every officer who will operate counter-drone equipment must obtain individual certification through the FBI National Counter-UAS Training Center (NCUTC) at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Officers must be certified BEFORE operating any C-UAS equipment.
48-Hour Incident Reporting
Every counter-drone incident must be reported to both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) within 48 hours. Reports must include four specific statutory fields.
Authorized Technologies List
All counter-drone equipment and technologies used by SLTT agencies must appear on the federally maintained Authorized Technologies List. Agencies may not deploy unapproved equipment for C-UAS operations.
Federal Grant Funding
Congress has allocated $875 million in federal grants for C-UAS programs, including the FEMA C-UAS Grant ($250M) and the FIFA World Cup Security Grant ($625M), to help agencies stand up compliant programs.
Authority Duration
The counter-drone authority granted to SLTT agencies under the SAFER SKIES Act expires after four years from the date of enactment unless Congress passes reauthorization legislation. Agencies should build compliant programs now to take full advantage of the authority window and position themselves for any future reauthorization.
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Request Early AccessCompliance obligations reflect current statutory requirements under Sections 8601–8607 of the FY2026 NDAA. Implementing regulations due June 15, 2026 will provide additional specificity.