Description:
S. 2836 would authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take certain actions necessary to mitigate the threat to selected U.S. facilities or assets posed by unmanned aircraft (drones). The authority provided by the bill would expire five years after enactment. S. 2836 also would direct DHS to prepare assessments of the threats presented by unmanned aircraft systems and vehicular terrorism. Using information provided by DHS and DOJ, CBO estimates that implementing S. 2836 would cost less than $500,000 annually, assuming the availability of appropriated funds. We expect the departments would use existing resources, as needed, to execute the new authorities provided by the bill. For example, under S. 2836 both DHS and DOJ could monitor or track an unmanned aircraft without the consent of the operators or owners. Enacting S. 2836 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting S. 2836 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029. S. 2836 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
