(BOP) - On October 5, President Trump signed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, which included provisions granting the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice (DOJ) the authority to track, intercept and destroy drones deemed to be a "credible threat" to people or federal facilities. Regulations regarding implementation of the new law are forthcoming.
Prior to the issuance of this law, and as a result of efforts of the Bureau of Prisons (Bureau) and the DOJ, the FAA approved the prohibition of drone flights up to 400 feet over 20 Bureau high security facilities. Drone operators who violate the flight restrictions may be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties. The Bureau of Prisons was the first DOJ component to obtain temporary flight restrictions from the FAA. Similar flight restrictions over national security sensitive facilities, like military installations and some U.S. Department of the Interior and Department of Energy facilities, are also in place.
These flight restrictions and the new law support the Bureau's ongoing efforts to maintain safe and secure facilities and to protect inmates, staff and the public from security threats posed by drones.