Critical Infrastructure Airspace Defense Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9232
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-09: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T14:16:27Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to authorize private owners and operators of designated critical infrastructure facilities to independently detect, track, and mitigate threats from unmanned aircraft systems (drones). It addresses gaps in existing authority held only by federal agencies and certain law enforcement entities, with a focus on protecting the bulk power system and other high-risk sites.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 210G of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to extend counter-UAS authority to owners or operators of "covered critical infrastructure facilities" (defined as high-risk sites such as nuclear generating stations, key substations, transformer stations, and control centers of the bulk power system, as designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security in consultation with the Secretary of Energy).
- Requires personnel to complete training and certification by the Secretary of Homeland Security (coordinated with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration) before exercising the new authority; this includes standards for legal, operational, and technical proficiency, use of approved technologies, and coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration.
- Establishes a counter-UAS grant program administered by the Secretary of Homeland Security (in coordination with the Secretary of Energy) to fund purchase, installation, and operation of approved systems, with $250,000,000 authorized for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
- Provides liability protection, treating authorized actions as federal actions and shielding owners, operators, and personnel from civil or criminal liability except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
- Mandates biannual unclassified reports (with classified annexes) to congressional committees on training, certification, and activities.
- Includes a sunset provision terminating the critical infrastructure authority on September 30, 2031.
- Adds forfeiture rules for seized unmanned aircraft systems and updates related definitions and procedures.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Creates new exceptions to prohibitions in 49 U.S.C. § 46502 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 32, 1030, 1367, and chapters 119 and 206, allowing private entities to take mitigation actions that would otherwise be restricted.
- Extends counter-UAS powers previously limited to federal agencies and trained state/local/tribal/territorial law enforcement to private critical infrastructure owners and their designated personnel or contractors.
- Introduces a new national certification program and grant funding mechanism not present in current law.
- Modifies reporting, coordination, and termination requirements within the Homeland Security Act framework.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Increases responsibilities for the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Energy, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Justice, and Department of Defense in developing training, certification, coordination protocols, and oversight; requires real-time airspace coordination to protect the national airspace system.
- Citizens and private sector: Empowers owners and operators of covered facilities with new defensive capabilities, subject to certification and reporting; may reduce reliance on federal intervention for drone threats.
- International relations: No direct provisions address international aspects.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Private owners and operators of covered critical infrastructure facilities, along with their security personnel and contractors.
- Federal agencies involved in certification, grants, and coordination (primarily DHS, DOE, FAA, DOJ, and DOD).
- Congress, through required reports and oversight of the program.
- The broader public, via potential improvements in infrastructure security and reliability.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Introduces a limited delegation of authority to private entities for actions that intersect with federal criminal and aviation laws, paired with liability protections and a time-limited sunset.
- Establishes new regulatory and grant frameworks requiring interagency coordination within 180 days of enactment.
- Focuses on domestic infrastructure protection without altering broader constitutional allocations of authority over airspace or criminal enforcement.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-09: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-06-09: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-06-09: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-06-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Critical Infrastructure Airspace Defense Act — issued 2026-06-09 — PDF (9 pages)