It will be interesting to see how this affects state and local use of counter drone equipment.
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Trump Signs Order to Boost Drone Security Before World Cup

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President Donald Trump signed executive orders Friday to boost US drone capabilities, including strengthening counter-drone tools ahead of major sporting events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics that will be hosted in the country.
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“Taking action on airspace security has never been timelier,” Michael Kratsios, the director of White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, told reporters Friday, citing the upcoming events that are expected to draw millions of fans to the US. “The administration is cracking down on unlawful drone use, ordering a federal task force to ensure US control over American skies and prioritizing the detection and identification of drones in real time.” The aim of the three orders, according to officials, is to boost US manufacturing and innovation while decreasing reliance on foreign adversaries, such as China, which dominates the commercial drone market.
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The administration is also seeking to combat malicious actors, particularly following a public outcry last year over increased drone sightings in New Jersey. The recent use of unmanned aerial weapons in Russia’s war on Ukraine, which saw Ukrainian forces launch a daring drone attack within Russia has also drawn attention to the advancements — and threats — the technology poses.

One executive order to improve counter-drone capabilities calls for actions including the creation of a federal task force to review current regulatory frameworks and develop solutions to possible threats, according to a senior White House official who discussed the action on condition of anonymity before it was publicly announced.
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The order also directs the Federal Bureau of Investigation to provide training to state and local authorities, and instructs the US Federal Aviation Administration to expedite a rule that would allow people to petition the agency to prohibit or restrict drone usage near certain facilities, including critical infrastructure, oil refineries, chemical plants and amusement parks, the official said. The proposed regulation is already being reviewed by the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to the president. “They have an amazing potential for both good and ill.”
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A second executive order is intended to promote the US market for new technologies. It directs the FAA to speed up another rule under White House review that would allow companies to fly drones beyond a remote pilot’s direct line of sight without having to obtain individual waivers and exemptions. Companies, such as those using drones to deliver packages, have said the rules will make it easier for them to scale up their businesses and expand to more locations.
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Officials said the order is also meant to reduce reliance on technology from other countries. While it doesn’t ban any specific companies, such as China’s Da Jiang Innovations — the world leader in commercial drone sales — it does direct the Commerce Department to launch investigations and regulatory reviews to safeguard the US drone supply chain. National Defense Authorization Act enacted at the end of 2024 mandated reviews of both DJI and Autel Robotics, another Chinese firm, to determine if they pose a national security risk.
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The Trump administration has expanded restrictions on the transfer of advanced technology to China, including artificial intelligence and jet engine parts — moves that are a key point in trade discussions between the world’s two largest economies. According to the Atlantic Council, China controls 90% of the commercial drone market in the US and 80% globally. American companies have struggled to compete, which the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International has said is partially because Beijing subsidizes its domestic companies, allowing them to offer products at prices significantly lower than US counterparts.