09/25/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/25/2024 11:03
What GAO Found
Amid concerns about potential security risks of using foreign-made drones, in fiscal year 2020, the Department of the Interior began to prohibit the procurement and nonemergency use of drones manufactured by companies domiciled in countries designated as adversary nations (referred to as noncompliant drones). Interior continued to allow use of previously purchased foreign-made drones for emergency flights, such as for managing wildland fires. In October 2022, Interior lifted its prohibition on nonemergency use of such drones by its bureaus after determining that the potential security risks of these uses were sufficiently low. However, as of June 2024, Interior's prohibition on procuring such drones was still place, with new exemptions for procurements to support wildfire management and search and rescue operations.
Interior faces challenges with maintaining a sufficient drone fleet because drones compliant with its policies are more expensive and do not always have sufficient capabilities, among other issues, according to officials from the four Interior bureaus GAO reviewed-the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), National Park Service (NPS), and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Because of these challenges, Interior has not been able to fully replace its aging drones as they reach the end of their usable lives. However, Interior has made its needs known to manufacturers of compliant drones, and some bureau officials told us that they are exploring ways to adapt to the increased cost of compliant drones, including through procuring drones that multiple program offices can share.
Interior's drone policies have affected Interior's drone use for emergency and nonemergency operations in various ways:
Interior's drone policies have also prohibited other entities from operating certain foreign-made drones on Interior-managed land. As a result, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) altered or ceased some of its drone missions for wildlife surveys on Interior-managed lands, according to NOAA officials. In addition, Interior's nonfederal partners, such as universities, often do not have drones that comply with Interior's policies. Consequently, such entities can no longer fly missions on Interior-managed lands for purposes such as monitoring wildlife populations and evaluating archaeological sites, Interior officials said.
Why GAO Did This Study
Interior uses uncrewed aircraft systems, or drones, as part of its operations on the 500 million acres of federal lands it manages. These operations are often in remote areas and conducted under hazardous conditions, such as over steep terrain or during wildland fires. Using drones can improve safety and reduce costs, among other advantages.
GAO was asked to examine Interior's drone policies and their effects. This report provides information on Interior's drone policies since fiscal year 2020 and how these policies have affected drone fleets and operations by selected Interior bureaus, NOAA, and nonfederal partners.
GAO reviewed relevant laws, policies, and guidance and analyzed Interior data on drone procurement and flights by BLM, FWS, NPS, and USGS-the department's most active drone users according to Interior's data. GAO reviewed documents from, and interviewed officials at, Interior and the four bureaus on how Interior's policies affected drone fleets and operations by the bureaus and nonfederal partners. GAO also reviewed documents and interviewed officials from NOAA.
For more information, contact Cardell D. Johnson at (202) 512-3841 or [email protected].