A newly established federal task force will oversee expanded restrictions on drone flights over sensitive locations and coordinate with state and local law enforcement to identify and counter drones in real time. “We are securing our borders from national security threats, including in the air,” said Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
The measures respond to growing concerns over criminal, terrorist, and foreign misuse of drones within U.S. airspace. “We will be increasing counter-drone capabilities and capacities,” added Sebastian Gorka, Senior Director of Counterterrorism at the National Security Council.
Officials highlighted the use of drones in Russia’s war in Ukraine and recent incidents of unauthorised drones at U.S. sporting venues as justification for stronger enforcement. Gorka noted, “We will increase the enforcement of current laws to deter two types of individuals: evildoers and idiots.”
The National Football League welcomed the executive order, citing repeated incursions into restricted airspace during games. “This executive order is the most significant step taken to address the issue,” the NFL said, urging congressional support.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently records over 100 drone-sighting reports near airports each month, with past sightings causing disruptions to flights and major events. The orders do not impose a ban on Chinese drone firms, but aim to reduce dependency on them as part of a broader national security strategy.
Trump also ordered the FAA to lift the longstanding ban on supersonic air travel over land, imposed in 1973, provided noise standards are met. “Americans should be able to fly from New York to L.A. in under four hours,” Kratsios said, citing progress in noise reduction and sustainable engineering.
Boom Supersonic, a U.S.-based manufacturer, welcomed the move, with CEO Blake Scholl stating: “The supersonic race is on and a new era of commercial flight can begin.” The return to supersonic travel marks a shift from the post-Concorde era, which ended in 2003 after 27 years of transatlantic service.
The White House confirmed the executive orders reflect a dual objective: enhancing airspace security and modernising the aviation sector with technologies that meet current safety and sustainability standards.
