NFL urges Congress to tackle stadium drone threats

The National Football League (NFL), Justice Department, and FBI are urging Congress to act swiftly to bolster defenses against rogue drones threatening public safety at stadiums and critical facilities. Testifying before a House subcommittee on Tuesday, NFL security chief Cathy Lanier emphasized the urgency, stating, “The time to act to keep fans safe is now.”

Rogue drone incidents over NFL stadiums are on the rise, with 2,845 unauthorized flights reported in 2023, up from 2,537 the previous year. Currently, drone flights are prohibited within a three-mile radius and up to 3,000 feet above stadiums during major US sporting events. However, officials say existing laws are insufficient to address the growing risk.

Since 2018, the Justice Department and Homeland Security have had limited authority to neutralize threatening drones. But federal agencies and sports leagues, including Major League Baseball, argue that expanded powers are crucial to safeguard large public gatherings, airports, and critical infrastructure.

The proposed legislation seeks to close these gaps by allowing state and local law enforcement, as well as critical infrastructure operators, to use federally approved drone-detection technologies. It would also extend protections to sites like power plants, oil refineries, and high-risk prisoner transports.

“Gaps in legal authorities leave sensitive federal facilities, such as CIA headquarters, vulnerable to both intelligence collection by foreign states and physical attacks by hostile actors,” warned the FBI and Justice Department in joint testimony.

The Department of Homeland Security highlighted the organized use of drones for illegal activities, reporting over 6,900 drone flights near the Southwest border in a recent six-week period.

Sports leagues are particularly concerned, warning that unauthorized drones could pose a severe risk to fans and players. Without decisive action, Lanier and other officials warn that airports, stadiums, and other critical sites remain at significant risk.

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