Industry Leaders Warn Congress of Imminent Catastrophic Drone Attack on U.S. Soil
House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security Summary
Executive Summary
In urgent testimony before the House Homeland Security Subcommittee, drone industry experts warned that the United States faces an imminent threat of catastrophic drone attacks, with current detection and response capabilities woefully inadequate to protect critical infrastructure and mass gatherings.
Key Stats Revealed
400+ illegal drone incursions over U.S. airports in Q1 2025 alone (25% increase)
350+ unauthorized flights over 100+ military bases, including F-22 relocation at Langley AFB
3,000 drone flights over power plants in 24 months with unknown operators
Drones outnumber manned aircraft 4-to-1, doubling by 2027 and again by 2030
Only a handful of federal agencies have limited counter-drone authority; no state/local authority exists
Critical Testimony from Tom Walker (CEO, DroneUp, Former U.S. Navy Officer)
On the Current Crisis:
"Today, our airspace faces an urgent threat... These are not isolated events. They are growing, sustained, and increasingly malicious."
"Right now we have no integrated airspace management solution that tells us who's operating, what platform they're operating, and what are their intents.”
On Systems Failure
"The systems meant to stop this are simply not up to the task. The root problem is simple. We do not have an integrated national framework for drone oversight. The system we were promised still does not exist.”
“We rely on fragmented tools. We rely on unconnected sensors. We rely on outdated approval processes and this creates blind spots. It slows response time and it leaves critical infrastructure exposed. But the solutions are within reach. The technology to keep Americans safe exists today."
On Recent Incidents:
"Just two weeks ago... during high-intensity search and rescue operations amid the July 4th flash floods in Texas, a privately operated drone struck a rescue helicopter over Kirk County, forcing it to land and taking it out of service while dozens were still missing."
On Technology vs. Policy:
"The technology to keep Americans safe exists today... What we need now is clear direction and decisive action."
“It’s not a technology problem, it exists. There are a variety of technologies out there to detect these devices, but not everybody has the availability or know that these technologies exist, much less have access to them. So there's a lot Congress can do to help make the situation a lot better and fast."
On Urgency:
"This is no longer a concern for the future. It's a present-day crisis. Each delay increases our exposure to a serious event."
Major Concerns Highlighted
Ukraine's "Operation Spider Web" - Demonstration of 2,000+ mile drone strikes using commercial components, equivalent to attacking Los Angeles from Cape Cod
Chinese Drone Dominance - DJI's market control and recent removal of safety geo-fencing restrictions
Upcoming Vulnerabilities - 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics pose massive security challenges
Economic Impact - Potential for coordinated attacks to paralyze transportation infrastructure nationwide
Legislative Gaps - Multiple congressional committees have jurisdiction, creating coordination challenges
Key Solutions Proposed:
Mandate national real-time flight information exchange
Unify all flight authorizations into single secure process
Bind pilot, drone, and mission data with cryptographic credentials
Expand counter-UAS authority to local law enforcement before September sunset
Immediate Call to Action
Industry experts unanimously called for:
Expanded authorities for state and local law enforcement
Integrated airspace management system implementation
Emergency legislation before current federal authorities expire in September
Coordinated response across multiple government agencies
Bottom Line: Industry experts stressed this is "not a technology problem" but a policy failure, with proven solutions available but lacking legal authority for deployment. The consensus: America's window for proactive action is rapidly closing.