Rep.Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., who serves on crucial subcommittees of the House Armed Services Committee, is leading a charge to phase out Chinese-manufactured drones from use in U.S.
law enforcement."Here in the United States, we've allowed China to dominate much of the global drone market while American agencies continue relying on systems built by companies tied to the Chinese Communist Party," Harrigan said in a statement to Fox News Digital."That's a strategic mistake," he continued.The bill, titled the American Drone Manufacturing Dominance Act of 2026, would offer domestic law enforcement an off-ramp for whatever Chinese-made drones they might be currently using.It also furthers legislative ways in which Republicans have sought to step away from Chinese manufacturing and supply in sensitive areas.
It also makes federal grant funding conditional on not acquiring any foreign-made drones after Jan.1, 2027.SEN WICKER: ENDING CHINA’S DRONE DOMINANCE WITH A MADE-IN-AMERICA REVIVALRep.-elect Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., poses for a photo on the House steps of the Capitol after freshman members of Congress took their class photo on Nov.
15, 2024.(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)In its current form, the bill sets aside $1.5 billion in federal funding, funded through Trump's Section 301 tariffs, to accelerate the removal of Chinese-made drones and would subsidize a domestic drone manufacturing base with defense applications.Harrigan said drones have become a clear security issue in light of their use in overseas conflicts and their growing sophistication."One of the clearest lessons from Ukraine is that drones are no longer a niche capability; they're a foundational part of modern warfare," Harrigan said.Almost all major U.S.
cities have implemented restrictions on the use of drones.In Washington, D.C., for instance, drones are completely banned from use due to the federal Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) that governs highly restricted airspace.Even so, their use has climbed i...