HR 6848 DEFEND Act 2025

Summary

Instructs the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit an annual assessment of terrorism threats related to the proliferation and malicious use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) by foreign adversaries and terrorist organizations.

Requires the assessment to analyze methods, trends, and technologies used for surveillance, disruption, and attacks on critical infrastructure, as well as intelligence and data exploitation.

Evaluates risks of UAS attacks on U.S. security, vulnerabilities, and infrastructure, including potential for chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear delivery.

Demands the inclusion of emerging technologies like AI, autonomous systems, and swarm tactics to enhance UAS effectiveness.

Involves collaboration with the private sector and other federal agencies for comprehensive threat analysis and countermeasure development.

Mandates the creation of training modules for law enforcement to counter UAS threats.

Requires the submission of these reports to Congress in both classified and unclassified forms.

Establishes the title of the Act as the "Detecting and Evaluating Foreign Exploitation of Novel Drones Act."

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Detecting and Evaluating Foreign Exploitation of Novel Drones Act'' or the ``DEFEND Act''.

Requires the Secretary to annually assess terrorism threats from malicious use of unmanned aircraft systems.

SEC. 2. ANNUAL ASSESSMENT ON TERRORISM THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES ARISING FROM THE GLOBAL PROLIFERATION AND MALICIOUS USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

(a) In General.--Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 231 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 324. ANNUAL ASSESSMENT ON TERRORISM THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES RELATING TO THE USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS BY COVERED FOREIGN ADVERSARIES, INCLUDING TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS.

``(a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter for six years, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an assessment of terrorism threats to the United States relating to the global proliferation and malicious use of covered unmanned aircraft systems by covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, and the resulting implications such activities present for the homeland security of the United States, including implications for domestic preparedness for the malicious use of unmanned aircraft systems and the collective response to related terrorism threats.

Includes analysis of methods foreign adversaries use unmanned aircraft systems for surveillance, disruption, or attacks.

``(b) Matters Included.--Each assessment of terrorism threats under subsection (a) shall include the following:

``(1) An analysis of the methods, trends, tactics, and technologies, as of the date of such assessment, by which covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, seek to use covered unmanned aircraft systems to surveil, disrupt, damage, or destroy critical infrastructure of the United States or a foreign country, target civilian populations, conduct kinetic strikes or terrorism attacks, or otherwise undermine public safety or regional stability.

Evaluates risks of replication or adaptation of methods by foreign adversaries, terrorists, or domestic extremists.

``(2) An evaluation of the risks that such methods, trends, tactics, and technologies may be replicated, adapted, or learned from by other covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, or by lone actors or domestic violent extremists, to carry out similar terrorist attacks within the homeland, including efforts to compromise border security or port security, exploit vulnerabilities in the homeland's transportation systems, soft targets, mass gathering events, or other high-risk venues, or to cause mass casualties or disruption through the use of covered unmanned aircraft systems.

Assesses use of unmanned aircraft systems by foreign adversaries for intelligence and potential espionage or attacks.

``(3) An assessment of how covered unmanned aircraft systems are employed for intelligence, surveillance, or reconnaissance purposes by covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, including the collection, transmission, or exploitation of imagery or geospatial data, and how such data could be leveraged to facilitate espionage, cross-border operations, or attacks against critical infrastructure of the United States.

Analyzes methods used by foreign adversaries to acquire, transport, and conceal unmanned aircraft systems.

``(4) An analysis of how covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, acquire, manufacture, smuggle, or divert covered unmanned aircraft systems into conflict zones, including via ground convoys, commercial shipping containers, rail shipments, small vessels, fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft, over-the-road freight transport that may conceal or co-transport other illicit or seemingly innocuous goods, or any other illicit trafficking networks, and the applicability of such methods to potential entry into the homeland through seaports, airports, or land border crossings.

Analyzes emerging technologies in foreign adversaries' unmanned aircraft systems, including AI and autonomous targeting.

``(5) An analysis of emerging technologies integrated into covered unmanned aircraft systems that enhance their operational effectiveness, resilience, and lethality, when used by covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, including the use of artificial intelligence, autonomous navigation and targeting systems, advanced surveillance sensors, precision-guided payloads, encrypted communications links, physical tethering mechanisms (such as fiber optic cables that enable uninterrupted command and control in contested environments), cybersecurity-resilient architectures designed to prevent intrusion or remote exploitation, or any other adaptations intended to defeat or bypass electronic warfare countermeasures through resistance to jamming, spoofing, or signal degradation.

Evaluates low-cost drone swarms' potential to overwhelm homeland defense and law enforcement systems.

``(6) An evaluation of the use of low-cost, high-volume swarms of covered unmanned aircraft systems deployed by covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, in any region of active conflict as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal departments or agencies the Secretary determines appropriate, and the extent to which similar swarm tactics could overwhelm law enforcement within the homeland or overwhelm homeland defense systems, including the potential to exhaust counter-UAS systems and associated resources or create mass panic.

Requires assessment of foreign adversaries using unmanned systems for nonconventional attacks and homeland security preparedness.

``(7) An assessment of the use of covered unmanned aircraft systems by covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, in any region of active conflict as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal departments or agencies the Secretary determines appropriate, to deliver chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear payloads or simulants, including efforts to repurpose agricultural or industrial spraying unmanned aircraft systems for nonconventional attacks, and whether such scenarios are adequately modeled or prepared for in homeland security planning.

Requires a review of foreign adversaries' use of unmanned aircraft systems and their implications for security.

``(8) A review of how covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, in any region of active conflict as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal departments or agencies the Secretary determines appropriate, have experimented with water- launched unmanned aircraft systems and unmanned aircraft systems deployed from shipping containers or disguised vehicles, and the implications such tactics may pose for port security, land border security, or the security of critical infrastructure of the United States or a foreign country in proximity to seaports within the homeland.

Requires assessment of lessons from global conflicts on unmanned aircraft systems for homeland security strategy integration.

``(9) An assessment of lessons learned from ongoing and recent global conflicts regarding the utilization, defense, and defeat of covered unmanned aircraft systems, and from the experiences of allied and partner countries in countering unmanned aircraft system-enabled attacks conducted by covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of mobile counter- UAS system platforms, passive detection and tracking technologies, airspace management and deconfliction tools, and regulatory mechanisms (such as drone zoning laws), the applicability of such lessons to Federal, State, and local homeland security operations, and the manner in which the Department has incorporated, or plans to incorporate, such lessons into its homeland security planning, counter-UAS systems strategy, and interagency coordination activities.

Assesses unmanned aircraft systems' use by illicit groups for weaponization, trafficking, and surveilling law enforcement.

``(10) An assessment of the adoption, adaptation, and potential operational use of unmanned aircraft systems by transnational criminal organizations, cartels, or other illicit groups in the Western Hemisphere that are supplied by or emulating covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, including cross-border weaponization trends, narcotics trafficking, and surveillance of law enforcement operations.

Reviews the Department's R&D efforts against threats from foreign adversaries' unmanned aircraft systems.

``(11) A review of the Department's research and development efforts to counter emerging threats posed by covered unmanned aircraft systems used by covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, and how such efforts contribute to domestic preparedness for and collective response to terrorism.

Requires the Secretary to incorporate private sector input and technologies for counter-UAS systems in conflict regions.

``(12) A description of how the Secretary has incorporated input, technology, and best practices from private sector entities, including such entities the counter-UAS systems or detection technologies of which are currently deployed in regions of active conflict as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal departments or agencies the Secretary determines appropriate, involving covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, in order to strengthen domestic preparedness and accelerate adoption of effective counter-UAS system capabilities.

``(13) Any other matter relating to covered unmanned aircraft systems the Secretary determines appropriate.

Requires the Secretary to develop training for law enforcement on countering malicious unmanned aircraft system use.

``(c) Training and Capacity Building.--To enhance domestic preparedness against terrorism threats assessed in accordance with subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of relevant components and offices of the Department, as determined by the Secretary, shall develop recommendations, training modules, and exercises for Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement to recognize, report, and respond to malicious use of unmanned aircraft systems by covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, incorporating lessons learned from current and recent global conflicts.

Requires the Secretary to consult with various federal entities when developing terrorism threat assessments.

``(d) Consultation.--The Secretary shall develop each assessment of terrorism threats under subsection (a) in consultation with representatives of the following:

``(1) Components and offices of the Department. ``(2) The Department of Defense. ``(3) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence. ``(4) Any other representatives of Federal departments or agencies the Secretary determines appropriate.

Requires the Secretary to collaborate with private sector experts on counter-UAS systems for threat evaluation.

``(e) Collaboration.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall seek to collaborate with representatives of private sector entities, each of whom shall be, in the determination of the Secretary, a highly accomplished leader in the field of counter-UAS systems with demonstrated experience in developing, deploying, or advising on covered unmanned aircraft systems used in regions in which covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations, operate, in order to leverage private-sector expertise and resources for research, analysis, and evaluation of emerging threats relating to unmanned aircraft systems.

Requires the Secretary to provide a classified briefing and unclassified annex on terrorism threats assessments.

``(f) Briefing Required.--Not later than seven days after the submission of each assessment of terrorism threats under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a classified briefing on the findings, conclusions, and recommendations contained in such assessment.

``(g) Form.--Each assessment of terrorism threats under subsection (a) shall be submitted in classified form. The Secretary shall also prepare an unclassified annex to each such assessment, which shall be made publicly available on the website of the Department.

Summarizes "appropriate congressional committees" as the House and Senate Homeland Security Committees.

``(h) Definitions.--In this section:

``(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term `appropriate congressional committees' means--

``(A) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; and

``(B) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.

Defines "covered foreign adversary" as entities acting independently or supported by certain foreign governments.

``(2) Counter-UAS system.--The term `counter-UAS system' has the meaning given such term in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.

``(3) Covered foreign adversary.--The term `covered foreign adversary' means--

``(A) any foreign government, military, intelligence service, or other authority of a covered foreign country acting independently; or

``(B) any organization, group, or person acting on behalf of, with the support, direction, control, or influence of, or trained or supplied by, such a foreign government, military, intelligence service, or other authority, including any proxy, militia, paramilitary organization, intelligence or security service, or other state-sponsored actor that receives material support, training, technical assistance, or operational coordination from a covered foreign country and engages in activities that threaten the national security of the United States or its allies.

Defines 'covered foreign country' as one identified as a foreign adversary by intelligence community or Secretary.

``(4) Covered foreign country.--The term `covered foreign country' means a country that--

``(A) the intelligence community (as such term is defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4))) has identified as a foreign adversary in its most recent Annual Threat Assessment; or

``(B) the Secretary, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, has identified as a foreign adversary that is not included in such Annual Threat Assessment.

Defines "covered unmanned aircraft system" as using components or software from or manufactured in certain foreign countries.

``(5) Covered unmanned aircraft system.--The term `covered unmanned aircraft system' means any unmanned aircraft system that--

``(A) is manufactured in a covered foreign country or by an entity domiciled in a covered foreign country;

``(B) uses flight controllers, radios, data transmission devices, cameras, or gimbals manufactured in a covered foreign country or by an entity domiciled in a covered foreign country;

``(C) uses a ground control system or operating software developed in a covered foreign country or by an entity domiciled in a covered foreign country; or

``(D) uses network connectivity or data storage located in a covered foreign country or administered by an entity domiciled in a covered foreign country.

Defines 'terrorist organization' as entities designated under immigration law or engaged in terrorism per section 2(18).

``(6) Homeland security enterprise.--The term `Homeland Security Enterprise' has the meaning given such term in section 2200.

``(7) Terrorist organization.--The term `terrorist organization' means--

``(A) any entity designated as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189); or ``(B) any entity engaged in terrorism, as such term is defined in section 2(18).

Defines "unmanned aircraft system" per 49 U.S.C. § 44801, excluding national airspace operation requirements.

``(8) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term `unmanned aircraft system' has the meaning given such term in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code, except that the requirement relating to safe and efficient operation in the national airspace system shall not apply for purposes of this section.''.

(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 323 the following new item:

Requires an annual assessment of terrorism threats using unmanned aircraft systems by covered foreign adversaries.

``Sec. 324. Annual assessment on terrorism threats to the United States relating to the use of unmanned aircraft systems by covered foreign adversaries, including terrorist organizations.''.