The orders focus on the use of drones and other aviation technologies after a series concerning sightings.
On Friday, President Donald Trump signed three executive orders regarding the use of drones and other aviation technologies. The signing comes in response to a series of concerning sightings of drones along the East Coast last year.
In November and December of 2024, civilians and military personnel reported seeing unexplained drones in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The Biden administration conducted investigations and eventually determined that the devices were legally operated commercial drones, not unexplained anomalous phenomena. It was determined that they did not pose a threat to national security.
The Trump administration confirmed the Biden administration’s findings shortly after President Trump was sworn into office in January.
The orders signed on Friday focus on “unleashing American drone dominance, restoring American airspace sovereignty, and leading the world in supersonic flight,” White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios said prior to the signing ceremony.
Kratsios said, “For too long, red tape has hindered homegrown drone innovation, restricting commercial drone use, and burdening their development. That’s why the executive order signed today will enable routine, beyond-visual-line-of-sight commercial operations, like drone deliveries, and allow for greater testing and scaling. We’re also securing our drone manufacturing supply chains, reducing resilience on adversarial nations.”
He continued, “These orders also address the growing threat of criminal, terrorist, and foreign misuse of drones in U.S. airspace. We have a responsibility to protect and restore our airspace sovereignty. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are securing our borders from national security threats, including in the air.”
Sebastian Gorka, National Security Council senior director for counterterrorism, said, “Drones are a disruptive technology. They have an amazing potential for both good and ill.”
“The President understands this, and today he will act decisively to allow American innovation while at the same time protecting our nation,” Gorka explained.
