Bill · H.R. 9232· House(119-HR-9232)
Critical Infrastructure Airspace Defense Act
- Introduced
- 6/9/2026
- Last activity
- 7/7/2026 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.
- Sponsored by
- Matt Van Epps
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Critical Infrastructure Airspace Defense Act allows private owners and operators of designated high-risk critical infrastructure facilities to detect, track, and mitigate drone threats. To do this, personnel must be trained and certified by the Secretary of Homeland Security. The bill establishes a grant program to help these owners purchase and operate approved counter-drone technologies. It also provides liability protection for those taking authorized actions, except in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence. This authority is set to expire on September 30, 2031.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would business owners be better off under this?+6
Provides critical infrastructure owners with funding and legal authority to protect their assets from drone threats.
Does this put more money into stopping terrorism?+5
Provides grants and legal authority to mitigate drone threats against critical national infrastructure.
Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country?+3
Increases the ability of private operators to detect and track unmanned aircraft systems.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?-4
Grants broad liability protection to private operators for authorized actions, reducing legal recourse for affected parties.
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?-3
Expands the authority of private entities to detect and track aircraft, potentially impacting privacy.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
It increases government spending by establishing a grant program through 2031.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection of Essential Services: By allowing the mitigation of drone threats to the bulk power system, including nuclear generating stations and control centers, the bill aims to protect the reliability of critical infrastructure (Section 2).
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Financial Assistance for Security: The bill establishes a grant program with $250,000,000 authorized for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to help covered facility owners purchase and install approved counter-drone systems (Section 4).
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Standardized Safety Training: The bill requires a national certification program with standards for technical, operational, and legal proficiency, as well as coordination protocols with the FAA to protect the national airspace (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Reduced Accountability: Under the liability protection section, owners and personnel are not liable for civil or criminal claims arising from authorized actions, unless there is willful misconduct or gross negligence (Section 5).
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Expanded Private Authority: The bill grants private owners and their contractors the authority to take actions to mitigate drone threats that were previously authorized only for Federal agencies and trained law enforcement (Section 2 and Section 3).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Increases Counter Terrorism Funding+5Increases Domestic Surveillance+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+6
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2Increases Federal Power+2Improves Due Process-4Improves Privacy Rights-3
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+2Improves Economic Growth+1Reduces Government Spending-2Reduces National Debt-1
- 7/7/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.
- 6/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/9/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Dan CrenshawRepublican · Texas