Bill · S. 1250· Senate(119-S-1250)
SHIELD U Act
- Introduced
- 4/2/2025
- Last activity
- 4/2/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Sponsored by
- Mike Lee
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The SHIELD U Act authorizes various agencies to conduct Counter-UAS activities to mitigate threats posed by unmanned aircraft. These activities can occur on or off commercial service airport property. The bill allows for detecting, tracking, and disrupting, or even destroying, drones that pose a threat to people or property. It establishes requirements for tactical response plans and coordination between law enforcement and federal agencies. Additionally, it provides authority for federal departments to enter into contracts for protecting specific facilities. The act also amends existing laws to allow for the use of certain jamming and non-kinetic equipment.
Yes· 3 of 6
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?+3
The bill provides tools to mitigate physical and technological threats from unmanned aircraft systems.
Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country?+3
The bill authorizes agencies to detect, track, and intercept drone communications without prior consent.
Does this give the federal government more power?+2
The bill authorizes federal agencies and departments to conduct counter-UAS activities on and off airport property.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Does this give people more control over their personal data?-3
The bill authorizes the interception of electronic communications to control drones, which impacts privacy.
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?-3
The bill's authority to intercept communications without consent creates privacy risks.
Does this change how police departments operate?-2
The bill expands law enforcement authority to intercept and disrupt communications, which may raise privacy concerns.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Enhanced Safety at Airports: The bill allows the Department of Homeland Security, state and local law enforcement, and airport law enforcement to carry out activities to mitigate threats to the safety or security of a commercial service airport (Section 3(a)(1)).
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Protection of Public Health and Safety: Law enforcement is authorized to mitigate threats posed by unmanned aircraft that are believed to create a potential for bodily harm or loss of human life to persons under the jurisdiction of a commercial service airport or a State or locality (Section 2(6)(A)).
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Economic Protection: The bill addresses threats that have the potential to cause severe economic damage to property owned by commercial service airports or property under the jurisdiction of a State or locality (Section 2(6)(B)).
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Standardized Response Procedures: Airport directors are required to convene task forces to create tactical response plans that include standard operating procedures for responding to various threat levels (Section 3(c)(1) and (3)).
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Improved Training: The bill includes provisions to develop and implement law enforcement training curricula related to the use of Counter-UAS activities, covering both kinetic and non-kinetic equipment (Section 6).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Potential for Collateral Damage: While the bill requires standard operating procedures to include a requirement to minimize collateral damage, the authority to use reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy an unmanned aircraft system remains (Section 2(3)(F) and Section 3(c)(3)(B)).
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Interference with Communications: Counter-UAS activities include the ability to intercept, access, or interfere with wire, oral, electronic, or radio communications used to control an unmanned aircraft (Section 2(3)(A) and (C)).
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Use of Non-Kinetic Equipment: The bill authorizes the use of non-kinetic equipment to disrupt control of an unmanned aircraft system without prior consent (Section 2(3)(C)).
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
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+3Increases Domestic Surveillance+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Freedom Of Speech-2Improves Policing Reform-2
- Education And Technology
- Improves Data Privacy-3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Urban Residents+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+2Improves Government Transparency+1Increase States Rights+1Improves Privacy Rights-3
- 4/2/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Introduced in Senate