Page 1 GAO-24-106924 Department of the Interior Drone Policy
Since 2006, the Department of the Interior has used uncrewed aircraft systems
(UAS)—also called drones—in operations on the 500 million acres of federal
lands it manages. These operations are often in remote areas and conducted
under hazardous conditions, such as over steep terrain or during wildland fires.
For example, Interior has used drones to manage or prevent wildfires, such as by
collecting information on fires’ locations and potential to spread. Using drones for
a variety of missions can improve safety and reduce costs, among other
advantages over alternative methods. Additionally, other entities, including the
Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) have partnered with Interior to use drones on Interior-managed lands.
Figure 1: Department of the Interior Drone Conducting Aerial Ignition Operations
Since fiscal year 2020, Interior has made various revisions to its policies on
drone purchase and use amid concerns about potential security risks of foreign-
made drones.
We were asked to review these policies and their effects. This report examines
the effects on the drone fleets and operations of Interior’s four most active drone
users—the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service
(FWS), National Park Service (NPS), and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)—as
well as on NOAA and nonfederal partners.
• From January 2020 through October 2022, Interior prohibited the
procurement and nonemergency use of drones manufactured by companies
domiciled in countries designated as adversary nations. In response to this
policy, the selected bureaus halted all nonemergency drone flights during this
time frame, according to officials. As of June 2024, the prohibition on
U.S. Government Accountability Office
s: Effects of Interior’s Policies on
-Made Drones
-24-106924
Report to Congressional Requesters
, 2024
