Hegseth Moves To Speed C-UAS Use In The Homeland, Expands JIATF's Roles

Secretary of Defense Hegseth has directed measures to accelerate the deployment of counter-UAS systems for homeland defense missions and has expanded the role of the Joint Interagency Task Force, giving it broader authority to coordinate C-UAS activities across federal agencies. The directive addresses growing concerns about drone incursions over sensitive military and government facilities within the continental United States. The expansion of JIATF's mandate and the push to shorten C-UAS fielding timelines reflect an institutional acknowledgment that existing approval processes have been too slow to match the pace of the drone threat.