Over 100 Industry Leaders, 90+ Congressional Meetings: AUVSI Calls for Policy to Keep Pace with Autonomous Systems
AUVSI convened more than 100 industry leaders for its 2026 Hill Day, conducting over 90 meetings with congressional offices to deliver a unified message: U.S. autonomous systems policy must evolve to match the pace of technological innovation and keep American industry globally competitive.
Highlights
- AUVSI's 2026 Hill Day mobilized over 100 industry leaders to conduct more than 90 meetings with U.S. congressional offices on a single advocacy day.
- Industry representatives called on Congress to accelerate BVLOS commercialization, national airspace integration for drones, and clearer regulatory frameworks for uncrewed systems.
- AUVSI warned that a persistent gap between policymaking and technological innovation puts the U.S. at risk of losing global competitiveness in autonomous systems.
- Participants represented the full range of uncrewed systems sectors, including drones, unmanned ground vehicles, and unmanned surface and underwater vehicles.
- Hill Day is AUVSI's flagship annual event for direct legislative advocacy and is considered a key indicator of the industry's policy priorities each year.
The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) held its 2026 #AUVSIHillDay on Capitol Hill, mobilizing more than 100 industry leaders to conduct over 90 meetings with members of Congress. The message was clear and urgent: the autonomous systems industry needs a policy environment that keeps pace with rapid technological advancement.
Industry Speaks with One Voice
The event brought together company representatives and technical experts spanning the full spectrum of uncrewed systems — including drones, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and unmanned surface and underwater vehicles. Participants engaged congressional offices in direct, face-to-face conversations, emphasizing that the existing regulatory framework is no longer adequate to address the demands of fast-evolving autonomous technologies.
Why Policy Must Catch Up
Attendees warned that if the pace of policymaking continues to lag behind technological innovation, the United States risks falling behind in global autonomous systems competitiveness. Industry representatives urged Congress to accelerate legislation covering several priority areas: the commercialization of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, the integration of drones into the national airspace, and the establishment of clear regulatory frameworks governing uncrewed systems in both national security and civil applications.
AUVSI's Advocacy Role
AUVSI has long served as the leading advocacy organization for the U.S. uncrewed systems industry. Hill Day has become the association's flagship annual event for channeling industry momentum directly into the legislative process. The scale of the 2026 edition — more than 100 leaders and 90-plus congressional meetings — underscores the industry's heightened urgency around policy issues.
A full event recap is available in AUVSI's official report.
Source: AUVSI official statement and #AUVSIHillDay 2026 event report
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