Five Federal Departments Sign Agreement on Counter-Drone Coordination

Five U.S. federal departments signed a memorandum of understanding on November 9, 2026, to coordinate counter-uncrewed aircraft system operations. The White House Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty led the interagency process, according to the report.

Key details

• The signatories are the Departments of War, Homeland Security, Transportation, Energy and Justice.
• The agencies plan to coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Communications Commission on research, development, testing and evaluation of counter-drone technologies.
• The work covers systems that detect, track, stop or take control of unauthorized or dangerous drones.
• The FAA may assess aviation safety risks, review safety protocols and airspace coordination measures, and recommend mitigations.

The agreement brings together the Departments of War, Homeland Security, Transportation, Energy and Justice.

Why it matters

Counter-drone systems can affect aircraft operations and navigation systems, so the agencies’ stated aim includes addressing drone threats while avoiding disruption to aviation. The FAA’s role includes reviewing proposed systems’ safety protocols and airspace coordination measures.