Biden seeks wide authorization to track, destroy suspect drones

The Biden administration has asked Congress to dramatically expand the number of government and public agencies – from federal to local administrations ­– that are legally permitted to identify, track, and disable potentially malicious drones flying in US airspaces.

That call to enlarge the number of public organizations and officials authorized to engage in tracking and destruction activity against potentially hostile drones was part of a wider Domestic Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems National Action Plan the White House released Monday. In it, the Biden administration appeals to Congress to renew existing legislation legalizing counter-UAV action by “the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Defense, State, as well as the Central Intelligence Agency and NASA in limited situations.” It also calls for new measures to be enacted allowing local officials to take defensive measures against drones they fear are up to no good.

“The proposal also…