Reps. Troy E. Nehls and Don Davis Introduce the De-escalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) and Congressman Don Davis (D-NC-01) introduced the De-escalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025, legislation that would establish a pilot program within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to review the potential use of non-lethal de-escalation drones for local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The use of non-lethal de-escalation unmanned aircraft would be utilized in situations like active shooter events, which can serve as an alternative to putting officers in the direct line of fire. The bill also requires the FAA to create a process for SWAT teams to request FAA authorization to operate these tools.

The 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act created a broad prohibition on operating unmanned aircraft equipped with a "dangerous weapon" capable of causing "serious bodily injury" in federally regulated airspace. Due to the broadness of this prohibition, SWAT officers are restricted from operating an unmanned aircraft that has a non-lethal weapon affixed. The De-escalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025narrowly defines a "non-lethal de-escalation unmanned aircraft" to include only unmanned aircraft equipped with one or more non-lethal weapons that are used by law enforcement personnel in scenarios such as an active shooter event which present significant risk to human life, including the life of law enforcement personnel, captives, uninvolved individuals, the public, or a suspected criminal, and when the suspected criminal is in a position through which they could potentially escalate the situation and expose human life to a high level of risk.

The devices used in the pilot program established by this legislation would be required to be made in the United States.

"As a former Texas Sheriff and law enforcement officer, I know firsthand the unique situations and unprecedented dangers our nation's law enforcement officers face each and every day to keep our communities safe and to protect the citizens they serve," said Congressman Nehls. "Our officers need to be equipped with the most effective tools to address conflicts properly, and my legislation does just that. Thank you to Congressman Davis for joining me in this crucial effort."

"We must do everything we can to de-escalate dangerous situations and assist our emergency response teams on the frontlines," said Congressman Davis. "By exploring the potential use of non-lethal drones for law enforcement, we are doing just that."

Cosponsors of this legislation include Representatives Brad Finstad (R-MN-01), Clay Higgins (R-LA-03), Lauren Boebert (R-CO-03), Pete Stauber (R-MN-08), Barry Moore (R-AL-01), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04), Ryan Zinke (R-MT-01), Tony Wied (R-WI-08), and Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02).

Supporting organizations of this legislation include the National Fraternal Order of Police and several other major law enforcement organizations.