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S. 1809 119th Congress Senate

Drone Espionage Act

Official title: A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking or transmitting video of defense information, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 20, 2025 Introduced by: Ashley Moody Republican · Florida See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Digital mediaEspionage and treasonMilitary facilities and propertyMilitary operations and strategy
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 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 9, 2026
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 316.
Feb 9, 2026
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
Feb 5, 2026
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jun 10, 2025
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Border Management, Federal Workforce, and Regulatory Affairs. Hearings held.
May 20, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
May 20, 2025
Introduced in Senate
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What's happening now February 9, 2026

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 316.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Drone Espionage Act

This bill makes it a federal crime under the Espionage Act to engage in certain activities related to obtaining, receiving, or transmitting video of national defense information. The term national defense information means information or other material that is related to national defense.

The Espionage Act prohibits certain activities related to obtaining, receiving, or transmitting national defense information that could harm the United States or aid a foreign nation. Under current law, the prohibitions only apply if national defense information is obtained, received, or transmitted by certain means, such as a sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, document, writing, or note. Under current law, a violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both.

This bill makes the criminal prohibitions under the Espionage Act applicable if national defense information is obtained, received, or transmitted by means of video. Under this bill, a violator is subject to the same penalties as under existing law—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both.

 Hearings & markups 1
 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 2939 Identical bill Drone Espionage Act
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 13
All 13 Democratic 1 Republican 11
R
McCormick, David
Pennsylvania · Nov 18, 2025
 R
Britt, Katie Boyd
Alabama · Jul 28, 2025
Mullin, Markwayne
· Jul 22, 2025
 R
Tuberville, Tommy
Alabama · Jul 14, 2025
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · Jun 10, 2025
 R
Cruz, Ted
Texas · Jun 9, 2025
 R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · Jun 4, 2025
 D
Slotkin, Elissa
Michigan · Jun 2, 2025
 R
Budd, Ted
North Carolina · May 20, 2025
 R
Cotton, Tom
Arkansas · May 20, 2025
 R
Lee, Mike
Utah · May 20, 2025
 R
Moreno, Bernie
Ohio · May 20, 2025
 R
Tillis, Thomas
North Carolina · May 20, 2025
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1809: Drone Espionage Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-1809/
MLA
"S. 1809: Drone Espionage Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-1809/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1809, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-1809/.
Markdown link
[S. 1809: Drone Espionage Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-1809/)
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