119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 2205
This bill exempts the Secretary of Energy from federal restrictions that normally prohibit purchasing, operating, and using federal funds for drones made by foreign companies considered security risks. Specifically, it allows the Energy Department to use certain foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems that would otherwise be banned, and grants the Secretary of Energy authority to decide how classified tracking information related to these drones can be used. The bill also expands the Energy Secretary's power to protect nuclear facilities and sites that store, transport, or work with nuclear materials or weapons components from unmanned aircraft threats. The legislation essentially carves out an exception for the Energy Department from drone procurement and operation rules established in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, likely to enable drone use for surveillance and security at sensitive nuclear sites where domestic alternatives may be unavailable or inadequate.