The Pentagon is preparing to deploy counter-drone technology along the U.S.-Mexico border in support of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and border security efforts, two senior defense officials told Congress on Tuesday.
Mark Ditlevson, the acting assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, said the move follows executive orders from former President Donald Trump directing the Department of Defense to secure full operational control of the border.
“To meet that order, we are preparing to deploy counter-small uncrewed aerial systems, or CsUAS, along the border,” Ditlevson told the House Military and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee. The deployment is aimed at protecting both military interests and supporting the Department of Homeland Security, which leads federal border efforts.
Rear Adm. Paul Spedero Jr., vice director for operations on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, added that cartels are increasingly using drones for surveillance and attacks.
“We’ve seen them use drones to monitor troop movements and plan attacks,” Spedero said. “These are not just surveillance tools—they’re being used as weapons.”
The Pentagon’s testimony comes amid growing concern over drone threats both at home and abroad. Recent incidents, including drone activity in New Jersey and at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, have highlighted vulnerabilities in U.S. airspace.
To address the issue, DOD is investing in new hardware and software to help commanders better detect and respond to drone threats. Officials also confirmed that policy and technology updates are in progress to streamline how counter-UAS operations are handled.
However, some lawmakers remain concerned that troops lack clear guidance on how to deal with drone incursions—especially at the border, where the military’s role has expanded under Trump’s orders.
In their written testimony, Ditlevson and Spedero warned that criminal groups are adapting quickly, using drones to track Border Patrol and military forces along the southern border.
They acknowledged that details on how and when the counter-drone systems would be deployed are still being worked out, and no timeline or policy changes were announced during the hearing.
Rep. William Timmons (R-S.C.), who chairs the subcommittee, stressed the urgency of the situation. “Cartels are using drones to spy on our troops and law enforcement. If Border Patrol says it’s a problem, it’s a problem,” Timmons told DefenseScoop after the hearing.
