The federal drone procurement environment has shifted more in 18 months than in the prior decade. Executive prioritization, unprecedented appropriations, and the FCC's market-clearing Covered List have created the largest domestic drone procurement window in U.S. history.
“Unleashing American Drone Dominance.” Directed federal agencies to prioritize U.S.-manufactured drones, accelerate BVLOS rulemaking, and secure supply chains from foreign interference. Legal foundation for everything that follows.
$1.1B in prototype orders over four Gauntlet phases. PDW competed in Gauntlet I at Fort Benning; commended by DDP for mass-production capacity. Now qualified for Gauntlet II (48 companies) competing with AM-FPV.
$1B base + $53.6B via reconciliation. The largest single-year autonomous-systems investment in DoW history — ~24,000% over the FY2026 baseline of $225.9M. Must survive markup, conference, and floor vote.
48 companies qualified. PDW is competing with AM-FPV. Phase II bans systems with Chinese-origin motors or batteries — PDW's domestic supply chain is an explicit competitive advantage.
Gauntlet I (March 2026): PDW did not place in the Top 11 but was specifically commended by DDP for mass-production capacity and qualified for all subsequent phases. Non-winners are eligible — this was not a down-select. Gauntlet II results expected approximately August 2026.
Led March 2026 SASC hearing on the drone industrial base. Secured the $2.5B reconciliation provision.
Championed NDAA §1709 banning Chinese drone companies. Urged FCC crackdown Oct 2025.
Questioned DoW witnesses at March 2026 SASC hearing. Active domestic-manufacturing advocate.
Co-led SAFER SKIES Act. Explicit national-security framing aligned with PDW positioning.
Requested national-security review of Chinese drone manufacturers (July 2025).
Co-led SAFER SKIES Act with Sen. Cotton. Bipartisan credibility on LE drone authority.
Alabama chairman; direct interest in PDW Huntsville operations. The most natural champion.
Led May 2025 hearing: ‘America Must Not Fall Behind in UAS.’ Leads UAS provisions in HASC markup.
Bipartisan UAS Caucus co-chair. Indiana is a Gauntlet II base state.
Bipartisan co-chair of the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus.
Introduced bill pushing DoW to produce 1M drones per year (Sept 2025).
Introduced Counter Drone State and Local Defender Act (Feb 2026). Expanding SLTT drone authority.
Supportive of defense modernization, focused on oversight. Not hostile — engage.
Supportive of defense modernization, focused on domestic standards. Not hostile — engage.
| Member | Party | Role | Position | Key Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sen. Roger Wicker | R-MS | Chairman, SASC | CHAMPION | Led March 2026 SASC hearing on the drone industrial base. Secured the $2.5B reconciliation provision. |
| Sen. Rick Scott | R-FL | SASC Member | CHAMPION | Championed NDAA §1709 banning Chinese drone companies. Urged FCC crackdown Oct 2025. |
| Sen. Mike Rounds | R-SD | SASC Member | CHAMPION | Questioned DoW witnesses at March 2026 SASC hearing. Active domestic-manufacturing advocate. |
| Sen. Tom Cotton | R-AR | SASC / Intel | CHAMPION | Co-led SAFER SKIES Act. Explicit national-security framing aligned with PDW positioning. |
| Sen. Elise Stefanik | R-NY | SASC Member | CHAMPION | Requested national-security review of Chinese drone manufacturers (July 2025). |
| Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand | D-NY | SASC Member | FOR | Co-led SAFER SKIES Act with Sen. Cotton. Bipartisan credibility on LE drone authority. |
| Rep. Mike Rogers | R-AL | Chairman, HASC | CHAMPION | Alabama chairman; direct interest in PDW Huntsville operations. The most natural champion. |
| Rep. Robert Wittman | R-VA | Chairman, TAL Subcommittee | CHAMPION | Led May 2025 hearing: ‘America Must Not Fall Behind in UAS.’ Leads UAS provisions in HASC markup. |
| Rep. Rudy Yakym | R-IN | Co-Chair, UAS Caucus | CHAMPION | Bipartisan UAS Caucus co-chair. Indiana is a Gauntlet II base state. |
| Rep. Dina Titus | D-NV | Co-Chair, UAS Caucus | CHAMPION | Bipartisan co-chair of the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus. |
| Rep. Mike Harrigan | R-NC | HASC Member | CHAMPION | Introduced bill pushing DoW to produce 1M drones per year (Sept 2025). |
| Rep. Eric Burlison | R-MO | House Member | FOR | Introduced Counter Drone State and Local Defender Act (Feb 2026). Expanding SLTT drone authority. |
| Sen. Jack Reed | D-RI | Ranking Member, SASC | CAUTIOUS | Supportive of defense modernization, focused on oversight. Not hostile — engage. |
| Rep. Adam Smith | D-WA | Ranking Member, HASC | CAUTIOUS | Supportive of defense modernization, focused on domestic standards. Not hostile — engage. |
Expanded DoW/industry coordination on UAS. SAFER SKIES authorized state/local LE to disable drones at public events. Established SkyFoundry domestic manufacturing program.
DJI and Autel banned from selling in the United States.
All foreign-manufactured UAS added; bars new equipment authorizations. Blue UAS exemption (incl. C100) issued Jan 7, 2026 — expires Jan 1, 2027.
$1.1B in prototype orders across four Gauntlet phases. Phase II bans systems with Chinese-origin motors/batteries.
$2.5B for domestic drone procurement; $1B+ for Group 1 FPV. Target: 300,000 drones by 2027. Wicker secured.
Speeds U.S. military drone production and exports by updating outdated regulations.
Bipartisan; helps first responders access DFR funding.
Authorizes ~4,000 LE agencies for counter-UAS. World Cup pilot for 40 agencies. Introduced Feb 2026 (Burlison).