The Wilderness Inclusion for Limited-use Drones Act of 2025 would amend federal wilderness protection laws to allow government agencies to operate unmanned aircraft systems (drones) in designated wilderness areas, potential wilderness areas, and wilderness study areas. The bill permits Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies to use drones for specific purposes including environmental monitoring and research (such as tracking harmful algal blooms and invasive species), law enforcement and search and rescue operations, and monitoring the effects of natural disasters. This represents a targeted exception to the traditional prohibition on mechanized equipment in wilderness areas, balancing environmental protection with practical management needs. The bill does not include specific funding or implementation timelines, and would apply immediately upon enactment to any government entity with jurisdiction in these protected areas.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.