Police can now use federal funding to purchase drones

Local law enforcement agencies have more access to federal funding sources for the purchase of drone technology with a provision included in the massive defense bill recently signed by President Donald Trump.

The purchase of unmanned aircraft systems had previously been excluded from certain federal funding. But bipartisan legislation introduced earlier this year by Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Troy Nehls (R-Texas) changing that was included in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2025.