A week after the New York Police Department asked the federal government for the authority to take down illegal drones unilaterally, Gov. Kathy Hochul supported the proposal, calling on the government to allow New York City to respond to drone threats.
Hochul said the federal government’s strategy to counter drone threats is insufficient and requires state and local authority support in letters to President Donald Trump and congressional leaders. Currently, only certain federal agencies are permitted to use specific drones that target and disable illegal drones at high-risk events.
In 2026, New York will host part of the World Cup, the country’s 250th anniversary celebration and other major events that Hochul said will put the state at an increased risk of drone attacks.
The NYPD previously requested the authority to purchase its own defensive drones, lobbying both Congress and Trump for permission.
Hochul said in the letter that the growth of drones has made it necessary for state and local governments to play a role in mitigation efforts.
“Granting states the authority they need to improve detection and mitigation of UAS threats, in coordination with federal agencies, is no longer a matter of preference,” Hochul wrote. “It is a matter of urgent concern.”
Hochul cited “concerning” drone sightings throughout New York State, and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch previously said at least 75,000 drones flew over the city so far in 2025.
Hochul also pointed to the success of Ukraine’s drone strikes against Russia — which experts said may have helped rewrite the future of warfare — as evidence that drones are a growing threat.
“An attack against strategic military and critical infrastructure in New York poses an urgent danger to the United States,” Hochul wrote. “I urge the Administration to proactively improve the UAS detection and mitigation posture in New York and for Congress to extend existing authorities and expand states’ abilities to detect and mitigate these threats themselves.”
Hochul said the federal government is currently unequipped to deal with drone threats, calling on Trump and Congress to develop a “comprehensive federal strategy” before 2026.
“These detection and mitigation measures must first protect critical infrastructure like population centers, utilities, and military assets, but also be able to be swiftly deployed to areas of concern when necessary,” Hochul wrote.
Will Owen, communications director for the technology privacy nonprofit Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, said in a statement that the anti-drone technology the NYPD is seeking is cartoonish and will jeopardize New Yorkers’ rights.
“New Yorkers deserve real safety, not cartoon cop drones straight out of Looney Tunes,” Owen said. “Wasting public dollars to invade our privacy is a dangerous police stunt, putting our rights to free speech and protest at risk.”
Hochul, whose letter addressed both the NYPD’s request and broader strategy, said the federal government must act immediately to prepare for the “prime targets” in 2026.
“The security of our state and the nation demands a coordinated and robust response to the challenge posed by drones,” Hochul wrote. “I urge you to prioritize this issue and take swift action before it is too late.”
