How public safety agencies can respond to the 2025 executive orders on drone security

In June 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed two landmark executive orders—“Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty” and “Unleashing American Drone Dominance.” These directives are driving immediate changes in how U.S. public safety agencies procure and operate drones. Agencies that rely on drones for real-time situational awareness and operational readiness must align their programs with these new federal mandates. The executive orders also have implications for enterprise organizations. For information on how Axon can prepare your company for a new era of airspace accountability, please read Securing the skies: How Axon is helping enterprises prepare for a new era of drone security.

A shift in national policy: Understanding the latest executive orders

Under the new June 2025 executive orders on drone security:

• Federal agencies may be prohibited from purchasing or using certain foreign-manufactured drones—and state and local entities are encouraged to follow suit.

• Foreign-made drones must be removed from critical infrastructure operations.

• Federal policy and funding incentives now prioritize NDAA-compliant, U.S.-manufactured drones for public safety and infrastructure operations.

• New federal initiatives are expected to support drone adoption through targeted funding for law enforcement, emergency services and critical infrastructure.

Your agency can take action today to ensure you are at the forefront of compliant, future-focused drone operations.

Five steps agencies can take today to comply with new national policy

1. Audit your existing fleet

Start with a thorough review:

• What hardware is in use?

• Are any platforms not NDAA-compliant?

• How is your data stored and transmitted?

If your audit reveals foreign-manufactured drones or systems linked to restricted entities (such as those on the FCC Covered List), begin outlining a transition strategy.

2. Upgrade to U.S.-aligned, NDAA-compliant platforms

Choose partners that are:

• NDAA-compliant

• Built or assembled in the United States, such as Skydio

• Offer secure evidence management and operational support

Axon Air delivers a comprehensive drone ecosystem that connects to Axon Evidence and Axon Fusus to provide real-time video streaming for command-level oversight.

3. Transition smoothly with SkySwap

The Axon SkySwap Program is a trade-in program that enables public safety agencies to seamlessly transition to secure, NDAA-compliant, American-made drone solutions. SkySwap simplifies your agency’s path to compliance by:

• Offering hardware trade-ins and cost-effective upgrades

• Delivering turnkey drone replacements

• Providing onboarding and training tailored for public safety teams

Contact your Axon representative or visit axon.com/skyswap to request your drone transition consultation today.

4. Enhance response readiness with Drone as First Responder (DFR)

Axon’s Drone as First Responder program allows your agency to:

• Launch drones directly from dispatch

• Provide officers with on-scene awareness before arrival

• Improve safety outcomes and speed up decision-making

Your agency can use DedroneBeyond to unlock beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) missions from 0–400 feet:

• First and only ground-based detect-and-avoid (DAA) system independently tested and validated by an independent third party—Virginia Tech’s FAA-designated Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership

• Fully aligned with FCC and FAA radar certification standards for DAA

• Exceeds American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F3442M-23 standards for long-range detection and airspace risk assessment, demonstrating well clear detection ranges up to 9 km (5.6 miles), far beyond FAA thresholds

5. Educate and align your internal stakeholders

Ensure that your procurement teams, IT leaders, drone program leads and command staff understand:

• The legal scope and urgency of these executive orders

• The rationale for retiring foreign-made systems

• How Axon offers a scalable, secure and policy-aligned solution

Axon is your mission-aligned drone partner

As policy shifts toward U.S.-made drone infrastructure, Axon is committed to helping public safety agencies stay ahead—compliantly, confidently and capably.

Please feel empowered to share this article internally and schedule a strategic consultation with your Axon representative to ensure your agency is prepared to effectively navigate the 2025 executive orders on drone security.