Considering Drone Mitigation for SLTT 

Lessons from H.R. 10555 

This bill was introduced on December 20, 2024, in a previous session of Congress, but it did not receive a vote. Although this bill was not enacted, its provisions can inform bills for tomorrow that expand permission for safely mitigating drone activity when the presence of drones compromises the safety of people and infrastructure. 

As drone activity continues to rise near critical infrastructure, public events, and government facilities, State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) agencies face an urgent dilemma: they can detect drones—but they can’t legally mitigate them. 

That might have changed with H.R. 10555, bipartisan legislation introduced in April 2024 as the Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act. The bill would have authorized a pilot program allowing select SLTT agencies to engage in drone mitigation activities under federal oversight. The elevation of this conversation signaled a shift in how the U.S. government views counter-UAS authority and dissemination beyond federal entities like DHS and DOJ. 

Why does this matter? In 2023 alone, the FAA logged over 2,200 drone sightings near airports and sensitive locations (source). Many of these occurred in jurisdictions where local agencies had no legal authority to act. H.R. 10555 seeks to correct this gap—balancing national security with local responsiveness. 

Key takeaways for SLTT stakeholders: 

• Current law limits counter-UAS authority to federal agencies 

• H.R. 10555 proposed a structured path for select SLTT participation 

• Proposed a pilot program would be overseen by DHS, with training and tech standards 

• Identified trusted detection tech, like radar, is essential for responsible implementation 

Of course, granting mitigation authority comes with complexity—airspace deconfliction, operator attribution, civil liberties, and operational training are all vital considerations. That’s why it's critical for SLTT leaders, security integrators, and legal advisors to understand both the legislative landscape and the evolving technical capabilities. 

Despite the death of H.R. 10555, the debate over domestic drone threats intensifies and momentum is building for more localized solutions with greater trust in local public safety professionals. 

Radar’s Role in Airspace Awareness and Safe Engagement

As momentum builds around empowering SLTT agencies to play a more active role in counter-UAS efforts, radar emerges as a foundational technology for airspace awareness and engagement safety. Echodyne’s high-performance radar delivers the precision, reliability, and all-weather performance needed to detect and track drones in complex environments—urban or remote, day or night. By providing real-time situational awareness, precision radar enables security teams to distinguish between routine and threatening aerial activity, supporting lawful and safe engagement decisions. As future legislation evolves, trusted radar like MESA® will likely play an essential role in responsibly extending counter-UAS capabilities to the frontlines of public safety. 

To hear more from industry leaders about empowering SLTT agencies with drone mitigation authority, watch the LinkedIn Live replay hosted by David Lewin: Drone Mitigation for SLTT: Discussing H.R. 10555 | LinkedIn