Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Provision Allowing Unchecked DHS Surveillance Slipped into NDAA
|
December 10, 2025 (WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement opposing the Trump Administration’s counterdrone proposal being slipped in the National Defense Authorization Act text at the last minute. Most troublingly, it would waive wiretapping prohibitions for the Department of Homeland Security while carrying out counterdrone operations across any of its missions – including immigration enforcement. “The Trump Administration’s counterdrone proposal included in the NDAA is a dangerous ploy to expand law enforcement authorities as far and wide as possible. “Expanding necessary counterdrone authorities requires a thoughtful, measured rollout—just as proposed in H.R. 5061, a bipartisan solution negotiated over several years. The Trump Administration’s proposal does the opposite, providing unchecked counterdrone authorities to every local beat cop who completes basic training, as well as to private and public corrections officers. Without necessary guardrails, counterdrone operations could impact the safety of commercial flights—as the Trump Administration showed in March when it misused counterdrone systems. “The proposal could also lead to major civil liberties violations. Most troubling is that the proposal would waive wiretapping prohibitions for DHS carrying out counterdrone operations across any of its missions—including immigration enforcement. Now is not the time to write Trump’s DHS a blank check. “The Trump Administration has shown it cannot be trusted. Sadly, Republicans in Congress are throwing a ready-made, bipartisan solution in the trash because they are fundamentally incapable of saying no to Donald Trump. To be clear, Democrats have had no input on the counterdrone text in the NDAA. “If this proposal is enacted, Republicans will own the consequences.” # # # |
Previous Article