The House Appropriations markup on June 5 and the HASC subcommittee markups in June are the most urgent action items on the calendar. Everything here is subordinate to protecting drone funding through those two gates.
U.S. must have most powerful military in the world
World is safer when U.S. is strongest power
Support Golden Dome homeland missile defense
Want U.S. to lead in international affairs
Support U.S. weapons to Ukraine
Support committing U.S. forces to defend Taiwan
GR leads at Skydio, Shield AI, Anduril, Auterion, Firestorm; AUVSI leadership
"A unified domestic industry voice is the only reliable way to protect the $54.6B DAWG request and Drone Dominance Program from markup cuts. Joint written testimony to HASC/SASC is the deliverable."
Chiefs, sheriffs, and GR leads at major LE agencies in Tier 1 states
"Every DJI drone in active LE use is now barred from new FCC authorization. The Blue UAS framework means agencies can procure the C100 without competitive bid. SAFER SKIES (FY2026 NDAA) is the procurement on-ramp. The argument works best from the agencies themselves."
GR leads at Booz Allen, Lockheed, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris
"The $54.6B DAWG budget creates downstream integration opportunities for every prime. PDW's Army contract track record and Gauntlet participation makes it a credible integration partner — a path around procurement bureaucracy."
Chiefs of staff and LDs for HASC/SASC members in Tier 1 states
"Rogers (AL), Wicker (MS), Rounds (SD), Yakym (IN) are highest priority. Huntsville is PDW's home — Rogers' HASC chairmanship plus Alabama jurisdiction is a unique asset."
| Missing Ally | The Argument | Key Targets | Urgency |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Responder Associations | IACP, NSA, IAFC endorsement of PDW's public safety platform would accelerate adoption across 18,000+ agencies — the most effective counter to state legislative restrictions. | IACP (Steve Casstevens), NSA (Jonathan Thompson), IAFC (Edward Kelly) | HIGH |
| Veterans Service Organizations | PDW's veteran-founded identity and Huntsville manufacturing base align directly with VSO priorities. American Legion, VFW, DAV can amplify the domestic-manufacturing argument to offices that track VSO sentiment closely. | American Legion (Daniel Seehafer), VFW (Tim Borland), DAV (Mark Burgess) | HIGH |
| Border Security Coalition | CBP, Border Patrol associations, and border-state governors are one of the largest drone procurement constituencies. C100 ISR capabilities are directly relevant. Texas alone has massive potential under Abbott's border posture. | Nat'l Border Patrol Council (Brandon Judd), CBP procurement, Gov. Abbott (TX) | HIGH |
| Defense Manufacturing Associations | NDIA and AIA carry the most credibility on domestic defense industrial base arguments. Their advocacy would amplify congressional engagement and provide institutional cover for appropriators. | NDIA (Hawk Carlisle), AIA (Eric Fanning) | MEDIUM |
| State Emergency Management Agencies | FEMA grants and state EM directors bypass restrictive state LE drone laws. Public safety framing works where law enforcement framing doesn't. | FEMA, State Emergency Management Directors in Tier 1 states | MEDIUM |
The window is open. The procurement framework exists. The public supports it. Two gates stand between policy and contracts: House Appropriations on June 5 and HASC subcommittee markups in June. Everything else is subordinate.