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FBI Director Kash Patel said Saturday that the Trump administration is consolidating its efforts to combat the growing threat posed by drones used by criminal networks, terrorist groups and foreign adversaries, launching a new national training program to help law enforcement identify and stop illegal drone activity.
Patel said the office has invested significant time and resources this year in modernizing its capabilities to combat unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
“Unmanned aerial vehicles are increasingly being exploited by criminals, terrorists, and malicious foreign actors — making the UAS program an important area for the FBI to develop and routinely stay ahead of the threat,” Patel wrote in X.
Patel said President Donald Trump signed an executive order in June that led to the creation of the National Counter-UAS Training Center, which the FBI operates at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.
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FBI Director Kash Patel said on December 27 that the Trump administration is coordinating its efforts to combat the growing threat posed by drones used by criminal networks, terrorist groups and foreign adversaries. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The FBI director said the new training center prepares law enforcement officers to safely detect, identify, track and limit illegal drone activity when authorized by law, in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress this year.
Patel said the facility will play a major role in preparing security operations for upcoming major events in the US, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
“This is an investment that will pay huge dividends for America’s national security for years to come,” he added.
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FBI Director Kash Patel said Saturday that drones are “increasingly exploited by criminals, terrorists and hostile foreign actors.” (Reuters)
Patel’s post underscores how the FBI is making counter-drone operations a modern priority, establishing drones as an emerging national security threat.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino wrote in X on Saturday that “the drone threat is not in the future, it is now,” adding that the Trump administration is taking steps to adapt to “the new ecosystem.”
On Monday, the Federal Communications Commission announced it would ban new foreign-made drones due to national security concerns.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the National Counter-UAS Training Center will play an important role in preparing security operations for the upcoming major events in the US. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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The FCC has added UAS and its key components made in China and other foreign countries to its “covered list” which includes equipment determined to pose an “unacceptable risk” to US national security and the safety of Americans.
Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.
