Top U.S. military officials told Congress on Tuesday that American bases are not properly protected against drones — a fast-growing threat that’s already being used for spying and could be used for attacks.
At a House Oversight Committee hearing, defense leaders said drone sightings over U.S. military installations have become alarmingly frequent.
In 2024 alone, drones were spotted over 100 military bases across the country more than 350 times, including recent incidents in New Jersey.
Rear Admiral Paul Spedero, vice director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the situation is serious.
“The homeland is no longer a sanctuary,” he said, warning that if enemies decide to use drones to spy on or strike U.S. soil, “we would not be prepared to adequately defend.”
Spedero also said that the technology behind drones is advancing faster than the tools meant to stop them. In many cases, even simple drones can bypass current defenses like jamming systems.
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In response, the military recently updated procedures for base commanders on how to respond to drone threats. But officials say that’s not enough.
The Pentagon is asking for more money to fight the growing drone threat.
The new defense budget includes $1.1 billion for expanding drone production and another $250 million for land-based counter-drone programs. However, military leaders made it clear they believe more funding is urgently needed to keep up.
Tuesday’s hearing highlighted how drones are changing modern warfare, terrorism, and intelligence gathering — and how the U.S. must adapt quickly or risk falling behind.
Lawmakers are now considering how best to strengthen America’s drone defenses as threats from foreign governments and even terrorist groups grow more advanced and unpredictable.
