Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025

This bill establishes a pilot program for law enforcement to use small, nonlethal drones to deescalate active shooter events. It reaffirms the existing ban on weaponized drones and requires the FAA to create rules for approving these nonlethal drones.

Sec. 2, Small unmanned aircraft pilot program for law enforcement and public safety: The FAA must set up a pilot program within two months to review nonlethal drones for active shooter response. The program will cover validating nonlethal weapons, training for law enforcement and FAA agents, operational safety protocols, and assessing how well these drones work indoors and improve officer safety. The FAA will use existing test range partnerships and can work with the Justice and Homeland Security departments and state law enforcement. Within three months after the program ends, the FAA must report to Congress with a plan for law enforcement to apply for permission to use these drones. Within 60 days after that report, the FAA must start a rulemaking to approve law enforcement and manufacturers to operate nonlethal drones for active shooter events and testing. All drones used in the program must be made in the United States. The bill defines an active shooter event as someone actively killing or trying to kill people with explosives or firearms, where responding is very dangerous and force is needed to stop the threat. A nonlethal deescalation drone is one only armed with nonlethal weapons, and may also have devices like sound emitters, cameras, and strobe lights. A nonlethal weapon is designed to incapacitate while minimizing death, permanent injury, and property damage, with reversible effects.