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Presidential Memorandum

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program

This memorandum directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a three-year pilot program testing integration of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) into national airspace with selected state, local, and tribal governments. The program aims to evaluate regulatory models, encourage innovation, and inform future federal UAS policy while coordinating with defense, homeland security, and law enforcement agencies on safety and security risks.

Federal Register Open PDF 82 FR 50301

Impact dates

  1. Begin UAS integration in jurisdiction (from agreement date)

  2. Final report to President due after Program termination

  3. Program termination unless extended

  4. Deadline for new proposals (1 year before Program termination)

  5. Enter into at least 5 agreements with participating governments (from Program establishment)

  6. Establish UAS Integration Pilot Program

Key directives

  • Establish UAS Integration Pilot Program within 90 days
  • Solicit proposals from state/local/tribal governments for UAS operations below 200 feet AGL (up to 400 feet if appropriate)
  • Enter into at least 5 agreements within 180 days of Program establishment
  • Selected governments must begin UAS integration within 90 days of agreement
  • Accept new proposals until 1 year before Program termination
  • Apply best practices from existing FAA programs to expedite waivers and exemptions
  • Address non-compliance through revocation or modification
  • Coordinate with NASA on UAS Traffic Management System development
  • Mitigate security risks with DOD, DHS, and DOJ
  • Develop enforcement best practices for federal law enforcement agencies
  • Test counter-UAS capabilities and cybersecurity
  • Submit annual reports to President during Program

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Memorandum establishes UAS policy framework
  • Secretary of Transportation directed to begin Program establishment

Near term (90d)

  • Program must be established within 90 days
  • Agreements with selected governments must begin UAS integration within 90 days of signing

Long term

  • At least 5 agreements to be entered within 180 days of Program establishment
  • Program terminates 3 years from signing (October 25, 2020) unless extended
  • Annual reports to President until termination
  • Final report due 90 days after termination

Risks & tensions

  • Balancing rapid innovation with privacy and civil liberties protections
  • Potential conflict between federal oversight and state/local/tribal regulatory authority
  • Security risks from expanded drone operations near critical infrastructure
  • Coordination complexity across multiple agencies (DOT, FAA, DOD, DHS, DOJ, NASA)
  • Spectrum allocation tensions with competitive and efficient use requirements
  • Enforcement challenges across overlapping jurisdictional boundaries
Presidential Memorandum: Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program · Executive Orders