President Trump on Friday signed an executive order aimed at reducing the national security and public safety threats posed by drones in the United States.
Trump is ordering a task force to ensure enough is being done to detect and identify drones, and to crack down on unlawful uses like spying and drug smuggling. It's a priority given the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
"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," Michael Kratsios, the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, told reporters.
The risks have been underscored by Russia's drone strikes in Ukraine, and Ukraine's surprise drone strikes that destroyed some aircraft deep within Russia, said Sebastian Gorka, the senior director of counterterrorism at the White House National Security Council.
"The timing couldn't even be better than it is today, given what we witnessed with the remarkable drone operation that occurred just a few days ago in Russia," Gorka told reporters.
Gorka said the federal response to foreign-made drones — and for protecting U.S. military sites, critical infrastructure and big public events — has fallen short. He said the order would boost the government's counter-drone capabilities, and said that the FBI would begin to train state and local law enforcement to be able to do more to protect against drone threats.
"We will increase the enforcement of current laws to deter two types of individuals: evil doers and idiots," Gorka said.
The order will also seek to boost U.S. development of drones, and commercial use of the technology for deliveries and other purposes.
Trump also signed orders aimed at clearing the way for a new generation of supersonic jets in the United States, and to encourage the development of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft or eVTOLs, sometimes described as air taxis.
"Flying cars are not just for the Jetsons," Kratsios said.
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