This bill gives the Administrator of NASA a temporary authority (through September 30, 2031) to detect, identify, monitor, and track unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or unmanned aircraft that pose a credible threat to NASA centers or property located on NASA land. It would add a new section to Title 51 that allows NASA personnel and certain contractors (with specific conditions) to use tools — including intercepting or accessing wire, oral, or electronic communications used to control UAS — to carry out those detection and tracking activities. The bill requires coordination and training with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a risk-based inventory and assessment of covered facilities, use of only jointly authorized technologies, development of guidance and procedures, privacy protections (including limits on record retention to 180 days unless longer retention is needed for law enforcement or security), and semiannual unclassified briefings to specified congressional committees. The bill also says the authority does not add other agencies’ powers, does not change spectrum management rules, and must consider aviation safety and impacts to the national airspace.
No publicly available information on costs or appropriations is included in the bill text.
The bill text directs NASA to take steps to protect NASA centers and property from UAS threats while requiring coordination with the FAA, training for personnel, limits on authorized technologies, privacy protections, and regular reporting to Congress. Supporters, as reflected by these provisions, would say the measure creates a focused, time-limited authority to detect and respond to credible UAS threats while building in safety, oversight, and privacy safeguards.
No publicly available information.