The COUNTER Act expands the Department of Defense's authority to neutralize unmanned aircraft systems (drones) that pose threats to U.S. assets and military installations. The bill delegates this counter-drone authority from the Secretary of Defense to military commanders and other DOD officials, and clarifies that certain federal laws—including those governing aircraft interference and computer crimes—do not restrict DOD or Coast Guard operations related to drone threats conducted outside the United States. The legislation also extends the program's authorization and reporting requirements from 2026 to 2030, broadens the types of protected locations and emergency situations covered, and shields the technology and procedures used in these operations from public disclosure under federal and state freedom-of-information laws. No specific funding amounts are mentioned in the bill text. The changes primarily affect the Department of Defense, Coast Guard, and emergency response agencies, while expanding protections for sensitive military and civilian facilities.
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.