WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Chairman Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security held a hearing to examine how drones are increasingly shaping and transforming our threat environment.

“It’s no secret that drones are increasingly being weaponized by adversarial nations and terrorist organizations to surveil, sabotage, and disrupt world peace,” Chairman Gimenez said. “As the United States prepares to host high-profile international events—and as our greatest adversaries, Russia, Iran, and Communist China, work to undermine American interests—we must act now. One drone in the wrong hands can threaten lives and cripple critical infrastructure such as air and seaports. This Committee will continue taking proactive steps as drone technology evolves to protect our airspace and ensure the safety of our communities.”

 

Watch Rep. Gimenez's line of questioning HERE.

Watch Rep. Gimenez preview the hearing HERE.

 

Read Rep Gimenez's opening statement as prepared for delivery below:

Good afternoon. I want to thank everyone for joining us for today’s hearing, which will examine how drone warfare overseas is reshaping the threat environment here at home.

In recent years, the use of unmanned aircraft systems, or “drones”, by foreign adversaries, terrorist groups, and proxy forces has grown significantly. Once confined to distant battlefields, these platforms are now being deployed in ways that challenge traditional security assumptions and expose critical vulnerabilities across our homeland.

Drones have become essential tools of modern warfare. On the battlefields of Ukraine, both Russian and Ukrainian forces are deploying thousands of drones not only for surveillance and artillery targeting, but for direct offensive operations. These include quadcopters assembled from commercial parts, long-range loitering munitions, and first-person-view kamikaze drones enhanced by open-source software. They are low-cost, adaptable, and increasingly precise.

Just weeks ago, Ukraine launched a deep strike inside Russian territory using a coordinated wave of drones, damaging strategic bombers thousands of miles from the front lines. Russia continues to rely on Iranian-made Shahed drones to bombard Ukrainian energy infrastructure, saturate air defenses, and inflict lasting psychological and economic harm.

In the Middle East, Iranian-backed groups such as Hezbollah and the Houthis have demonstrated the operational reach and lethality of these systems. They have targeted U.S. service members, international shipping, and critical infrastructure. The drone strike that killed three American servicemembers in Jordan in early 2024 underscored just how dangerous and asymmetric this threat has become.

More recently, during a 12-day conflict last month, Israel launched a series of drone and missile strikes against Iranian military sites, some originating from launch points within Iran itself, illustrating how even layered air defense systems can be bypassed using prepositioned commercial technologies.

What makes these developments more alarming is the accessibility of the technology. Many of the systems deployed abroad are constructed using commercially available components and open-source software. These tools are not limited to nation-states. Lone actors, extremist networks, and transnational criminal organizations can easily acquire and weaponize drones with minimal cost and training.

Here in the United States, the warning signs are emerging. Reports of unauthorized drone activity near airports and other critical infrastructure are becoming more frequent. Hundreds of sightings have been documented near military installations and sensitive energy facilities over the past year alone. The potential for a coordinated drone attack on an airport, seaport, or mass gathering is a credible and growing threat.

My home district in South Florida is particularly exposed. With major transportation hubs like Miami International Airport, the Port of Miami, and a dense network of energy and telecommunications infrastructure, we are a high-profile target. A single drone equipped with an explosive device or an electronic warfare payload could cause significant disruption, physical damage, and widespread panic. We cannot afford to be reactive. The time to act is now.

Another concern is the widespread presence of Chinese-manufactured drones operating within the United States. DJI, a company based in Communist China, commands a significant share of both the global and U.S. commercial drone market. Its platforms are used by private industry, hobbyists, and even some public safety agencies. In fact, even several DHS components have, inexplicably, used DJI’s AeroScope system to monitor drone activity near sensitive locations.

While AeroScope may offer affordable situational awareness, it also raises serious concerns about the national security risks posed by Chinese-linked technology, especially regarding data access, remote control capabilities, and potential sabotage during a future crisis or conflict with China.

Today’s hearing will explore what the private sector is experiencing on the front lines of drone security, the counter-UAS tools that are currently available, and the extent to which federal, state, and local authorities are equipped with the legal and operational capabilities to address these threats.

At present, the Department of Homeland Security has limited authorities to disrupt or disable malicious drone activity. Most state and local law enforcement agencies have no authority at all. This is a glaring gap in our national preparedness, one that we must urgently address as we prepare to host globally significant events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

We will also hear testimony on the broader risk posed by Chinese-made drones collecting sensitive location data across the U.S. These systems could be used for surveillance or even to carry out attacks. This is not simply a question of data privacy. It is a matter of homeland security.

Our adversaries are adapting rapidly. Our defenses must keep pace. That means updating our legal authorities, investing in next-generation detection and mitigation tools, and partnering closely with industry and state and local stakeholders.

I want to thank our witnesses for appearing before the Subcommittee today and for their continued efforts to keep our nation secure. Your perspectives will help inform the Committee’s work as we seek to close dangerous gaps before they are exploited.

I look forward to your testimony and to a productive discussion.

Thank you.

###

Congressman Carlos Giménez represents Miami-Dade County and the beautiful Florida Keys. He is the only Cuban-born Member of the 119th Congress, having fled his homeland shortly after the Communist takeover of the island. He is the first career firefighter-paramedic elected to the House of Representatives and served as the former Fire Chief of the City of Miami and Mayor of Miami-Dade County. Rep. Gimenez serves as the Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, the Armed Services Committee, and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. He was appointed by Speaker Mike Johnson to the Smithsonian Institution’s Board of Regents and the Mexico–United States Interparliamentary Group. Further, he serves as Vice-Chairman of the Republican Governance Group (RG2) and Vice Chair of Community Outreach for the Congressional Hispanic Conference.