Bill Summary
The "Ban Military Drones Spying on Civilians Act" is legislation aimed at prohibiting the use of certain unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs), particularly military drones, for surveillance of U.S. citizens participating in protests or civil disobedience. The bill specifies that no funds from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, or any other executive agency can be allocated for operating these UAVs for such purposes starting in fiscal year 2026.
Key provisions of the bill include:
1. **Prohibition on Funding**: It restricts the use of federal funds for the operation of covered unmanned aircraft in the U.S. for monitoring citizens engaged in protests or civil disobedience.
2. **Mandatory Reporting**: The President is required to submit annual reports to Congress detailing any instances of UAV usage for unauthorized purposes, including the justification for their use, the specifics of each operation, and whether U.S. persons were surveilled.
3. **Definitions and Scope**: The bill defines "covered unmanned aircraft vehicles" to include specific military drones like the MQ-9 Reaper and other military-derived UAVs capable of high-altitude flight. It also outlines what constitutes an "executive agency" and clarifies who is considered a "United States person."
Overall, the legislation seeks to enhance the privacy rights of individuals during public demonstrations and to provide oversight on the use of military drones in domestic contexts.
Possible Impacts
The "Ban Military Drones Spying on Civilians Act" could affect people in several ways:
1. **Increased Privacy Protections for Protesters**: The prohibition on using unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance on individuals engaged in protests or civil disobedience would enhance the privacy rights of citizens participating in these activities. This could encourage more individuals to exercise their right to protest without fear of being monitored or targeted through aerial surveillance, fostering a more open environment for free expression.
2. **Impact on Law Enforcement and Security Operations**: Law enforcement and security agencies may need to adjust their approaches to monitoring protests and civil unrest. Without the option to use military-grade UAVs, these agencies might have to rely on traditional methods of observation, such as officers on the ground or non-military drones, which could limit their operational capabilities and potentially affect their effectiveness in managing large crowds or events.
3. **Accountability and Transparency in Surveillance Practices**: The requirement for annual reports to Congress on the use of covered UAVs would promote greater accountability and transparency regarding surveillance practices by government agencies. Citizens would have access to information about the instances where such UAVs were used, including the justification for their use, which could lead to public scrutiny and discussions about the appropriateness of surveillance methods and their implications for civil liberties.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4759 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4759
To prohibit the use of certain unmanned aircraft vehicles in the United
States to conduct surveillance of United States persons engaged in
protests or civil disobedience.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 25, 2025
Mr. Gomez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Armed
Services, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit the use of certain unmanned aircraft vehicles in the United
States to conduct surveillance of United States persons engaged in
protests or civil disobedience.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ban Military Drones Spying on
Civilians Act''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS TO USE CERTAIN UNMANNED
AIRCRAFT VEHICLES IN THE UNITED STATES TO CONDUCT
SURVEILLANCE OF UNITED STATES PERSONS ENGAGED IN PROTESTS
OR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.
(a) Prohibition.--None of the funds authorized to be appropriated
for fiscal year 2026 or any fiscal year thereafter for the Department
of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, or any other executive
agency may be used to operate a covered unmanned aircraft vehicle in
the United States to conduct surveillance of United States persons
engaged in protests or civil disobedience.
(b) Reports.--
(1) Requirement.--On an annual basis, the President shall
transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report
on the use of covered unmanned aircraft vehicles in the United
States during the period covered by the report.
(2) Elements.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall
include, with respect to the period covered by the report, the
following:
(A) A list of each individual instance in which a
covered unmanned aircraft vehicle was used--
(i) for a novel purpose; or
(ii) for a purpose not authorized by
Congress, including with respect to a use by
one executive agency for an authorized purpose
to assist another executive agency that is not
authorized to carry out such purpose.
(B) With respect to each instance of a use of a
covered unmanned aircraft vehicle listed under
subparagraph (A)--
(i) the purpose of such use;
(ii) a justification for using a covered
unmanned aircraft vehicle, including an
analysis of why such use was required rather
than using alternative means more traditionally
used in a civilian context, including
helicopters or smaller, lower-altitude civilian
unmanned aerial vehicles;
(iii) the dates and time of such use;
(iv) the duration of such use;
(v) the location of such use;
(vi) the model of covered unmanned aircraft
vehicle used;
(vii) identification of--
(I) any sensors, cameras, and other
monitoring equipment equipped on the
covered unmanned aircraft vehicle; and
(II) any weapons equipped on the
covered unmanned aircraft vehicle;
(viii) a description of the process for
approving such use, including both the process
of the executive agency and any interagency
process; and
(ix) whether any United States persons were
surveilled for any reason, and if so--
(I) whether the executive agency
identified any United States person;
(II) the number of such United
States persons identified;
(III) the purpose for identifying
such United States persons;
(IV) whether the executive agency
disseminated such United States person
information to any other executive
agency or a non-Federal Government
entity; and
(V) the period that the executive
agency will retain such United States
person information.
(3) Form.--The reports under paragraph (1) may be submitted
in classified form or include a classified annex.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means
the following:
(A) The Committees on Armed Services and Homeland
Security of the House of Representatives.
(B) The Committees on Armed Services and Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
(C) The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
of the House of Representatives and the Select
Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.
(2) The term ``covered unmanned aircraft vehicle'' means
any of the following:
(A) The MQ-9 Reaper, or variants thereof.
(B) Any unmanned aircraft that--
(i) uses an airframe initially developed
for use by the Armed Forces;
(ii) is a medium-altitude, long-endurance
aircraft or a high-altitude, long-endurance
aircraft; or
(iii) is capable of flying at an altitude
of 10,000 feet or higher.
(3) The term ``executive agency'' has the meaning given
that term in section 105 of title 5, United States Code.
(4) The term ``United States person'' has the meaning given
that term in section 1637 of the Carl Levin and Howard P.
``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2015 (50 U.S.C. 1708).
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