The DEFENSE Act would empower local law enforcement to shut down and seize or destroy drones flying over outdoor sports stadiums.
A new bill that would ban drones at major sports contests has the support of four major leagues.
The Disabling Enemy Flight Entry and Neutralizing Suspect Equipment (DEFENSE) Act was introduced into the Senate on Thursday. The bipartisan bill, authored by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), would empower local law enforcement to enforce temporary no-fly zones over outdoor sports stadiums and use technology to shut down drones flying over stadiums.
The bill amends Section 210G of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, “Protection of Certain Facilities and Assets From Unmanned Aircraft,” which allows federal law enforcement to protect against unmanned aircraft such as drones that pose a threat to safety. Those powers include tracking unmanned aircraft in flight, warning the operators of the unmanned aircraft, disrupting or seizing control of unmanned aircraft, and seizing the aircraft and destroying it.
The bill adds sports stadiums to the list of covered facilities and allows the attorney general or the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deputize a state or local law enforcement officer with the same powers as federal law enforcement to help stop threats from drones and unmanned aircraft. State and local law enforcement must be trained in the use of mitigation authority and would be overseen by the attorney general, DHS secretary, secretary of transportation, and administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. Law enforcement may only use equipment authorized by DHS.
Drone incidents have increased dramatically. Testifying before the House Homeland Security Committee in December 2024, NFL Chief Security Officer Cathy Lanier noted that the NFL alone had experienced a 20,000 percent increase in incursions by unauthorized drones, from around a dozen in 2017 to 2,845 in 2023. One notable incursion occurred at Super Bowl LIII in 2019, when a drone appeared in restricted airspace ahead of a flyover by F-16s; The AFC Championship Game in January 2024 was postponed due to a drone flying over restricted airspace. A similar incident occurred in this season’s AFC Wild Card game between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Drone attacks have become a common tactic used by the ISIS terrorist group in the Middle East. An ISIS drone strike killed three American soldiers and injured 40 more at a military base near the Syrian border in Jordan in January 2024. A report by the Association of the U.S. Army noted that the commercial availability of drones, and even homemade drones, has led to the technology becoming more of a threat for future attacks.
Lanier said in her testimony that ISIS specifically “threatened drone attacks at the Cricket World Cup on Long Island, New York.”
Leaders of several major sports leagues endorsed the bill.
“As the threat of illicit drone use continues to rise, it is critical that our partners in local law enforcement have the tools and resources they need to keep fans safe,” Lanier said in Cotton’s press release announcing the legislation. “The league strongly supports this legislation, which will help keep fans safe at major sporting events across the country.”
MLB Senior Vice President of Security and Ballpark Operations David Thomas said: “For several years, MLB has urged Congress to address the growing and unmitigated threat which unauthorized unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or drones) pose to major sporting venues. We look forward to working with Senator Cotton, Senator Rosen, and other members of Congress to advance this critical piece of legislation for the benefit of our fans, players, and employees.”
NASCAR Managing Director Allen Taylor said: “In introducing the DEFENSE Act, NASCAR recognizes Senator Cotton and Senator Rosen for addressing a crucial issue related to event security. Giving qualified law enforcement partners at the state and local level the resources necessary to mitigate drone related threats is essential to helping keep events and communities across the country safe.”
Meanwhile, NCAA Senior Vice President of External Affairs Tim Buckley said, “The NCAA supports this legislation and thanks Senator Cotton and Senator Rosen for their leadership on this issue.”