Subcommittee Ranking Member McBath’s Opening Statement at Hearing on Combatting Criminal Drone Use in America
Washington, D.C. (September 16, 2025)—Today, Rep. Lucy McBath, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, delivered opening remarks at a subcommittee hearing on the malicious use of drones, otherwise known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and how the federal government can effectively combat UAS-enabled crimes.
Below are Ranking Member McBath’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at today’s hearing.
WATCH Subcommittee Ranking Member McBath’s opening statement.
Ranking Member Lucy McBath
Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance
Hearing on “Unmanned and Unchecked: Confronting the Rising Threat of Malicious Drone Use in America”
September 16, 2025
Mr. Chairman, thank you for convening today’s hearing to provide us with an opportunity to learn more about how drones can be used to commit crimes, how law enforcement can respond to those crimes, and what we might do in Congress to adapt our laws to meet the challenges drones pose to our society.
As with the Internet, artificial intelligence, and so many other technologies, drones can be a valuable tool. They can help first responders survey a disaster area to search for survivors, they can give law enforcement another vantage point from which to monitor a special event or sensitive location, and they can keep officers safer by allowing them to remotely investigate a dangerous location.
Although the rapid proliferation of drone technology has ushered in a new era of innovation, we are witnessing a new frontier for crime and public safety challenges.
In the wrong hands, drones can be used to invade privacy, smuggle contraband, or provide bad actors with information that can help them avoid detection.
I have heard firsthand about these harms from many law enforcement officers working to keep us safe. For example, Georgia prison officials have informed me that they are increasingly battling the use of drones to smuggle contraband into prison facilities. Drones have been used to deliver illegal drugs, weapons, and cell phones, which can each pose a threat to the safety of inmates and staff. Just last year the Georgia Department of Corrections seized drones, dozens of them, that could be used to seize contraband.
And recently, officials at Washington State Prison in Davisboro, Georgia worked with the Washington County Sheriff to track drones that were being used in an attempt to smuggle methamphetamine and heroin into the prison. By tracking the drones and using a K-9 unit, they were able to locate the drone operators, arrest them, and prevent the drugs from reaching the prison. While law enforcement succeeded in this effort using traditional tools, additional law enforcement tools may be needed to respond to the rising challenge presented by drones.
As with any new technology, we must exercise caution and proceed thoughtfully to avoid unintended consequences of detecting and mitigating drone activity. Disabling or intercepting drones presents unique challenges. For example, an intercepted or disabled drone could fall and injure innocent bystanders on the ground or damage objects or property in its path. Similarly, many of the technologies used to combat drones rely on disrupting their communications signals that could potentially disrupt the communication systems of planes or emergency responders. Testing, planning, training, and targeted deployment can all help ensure that counter drone technologies are used in a way that promotes public safety and strengthens our national security.
I look forward to hearing from our experts and discussing how we can work together to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by drones, counter drone technology, and our ever-changing technological landscape. I thank each of you for being here to share your expertise.
I yield back.