FBI Deputy Director Warns Drone Terror Attack on U.S. Soil Is 'a Matter of When, Not If'
FBI Deputy Director Chris Raia warned on June 24, 2025, in a Fox News interview that a drone attack involving explosive payloads on U.S. soil is inevitable. He cited the growing accessibility of commercial drones and tactical lessons terrorist organizations have drawn from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East as key factors elevating the threat.
Highlights
- FBI Deputy Director Chris Raia stated on June 24, 2025, that a terrorist drone attack using explosives on U.S. soil is 'a matter of when, not if.'
- The FBI has designated weaponized drones as one of its highest homeland security priorities, driven by lessons from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
- Current U.S. law restricts drone interdiction authority to a limited number of federal agencies, leaving local law enforcement without clear legal powers to act.
- Consumer-grade multirotor drones available on e-commerce platforms can be modified using widely circulated online techniques, lowering the attack threshold for non-state actors.
- Several Counter-UAS legislative proposals are pending in Congress, but slow progress has prompted urgent calls for faster action to close regulatory gaps.
FBI Deputy Director Chris Raia has issued a stark warning that a terrorist attack using explosive-laden drones inside the United States is only a matter of time.
The Warning
Speaking to Fox News on June 24, 2025, Raia said the increasingly low barrier to acquiring remotely piloted drones—combined with the tactical knowledge terrorist organizations have gained from real-world conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East—has significantly elevated the threat level.
He emphasized that the FBI has designated weaponized drones as one of its top homeland security priorities, and that the bureau is working closely with law enforcement and intelligence partners to develop countermeasures.
Threat Context
Drones have been widely used as offensive weapons in recent global conflicts. From one-way attack drones in the Russia-Ukraine war to precision strikes on infrastructure by armed groups across the Middle East, these engagements have demonstrated the feasibility and destructive potential of converting low-cost commercial drones into weapons.
Analysts note that consumer-grade multirotor drones are readily available on e-commerce platforms, and modification techniques circulate widely online—dramatically lowering the technical barrier for non-state actors seeking to carry out such attacks.
Counter-UAS Challenges
The United States continues to face significant challenges in its counter-unmanned aircraft systems (Counter-UAS) regulatory framework. Under current law, the authority granted to law enforcement agencies to shoot down or jam drones is strictly limited, with only a small number of federal entities authorized to do so under specific conditions.
Congress has seen multiple Counter-UAS legislative proposals introduced, but progress has been slow. Industry and security experts are calling for faster action to close regulatory gaps and provide local law enforcement agencies with clearer legal authority to respond to drone threats.
Raia's warning underscores a growing tension at the heart of U.S. homeland security policy: how to balance the open, commercial use of drone technology against the urgent need for tighter security controls as that technology becomes ever more accessible.
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