Senator Gillibrand Presses Pentagon Nominee on Drone Security Policy and National Security Blindspots

Unfiltered Advice and National Security

• 🎯 General Mahoney commits to providing unfiltered advice to the President, adhering to his oath and speaking out against harmful decisions.
• 🛡️ He acknowledges the significant responsibility of his role in advising on matters of national security.

The Growing Drone Threat

• ⚠️ Unmanned aerial drones pose a rising challenge, with incursions over military bases like Langley and allied nations.
• 🏙️ A major blindspot for the United States is the lack of a domestic policy to address adversarial drones hovering over major cities or large public events.
• ❓ There is a critical need for policy regarding the use and defense against drone technology, including identifying who is operating them (adversarial nations, terrorist organizations, spy networks).

Commitment to Drone Policy Development

• 🤝 General Mahoney gives his complete commitment to working with the committee on a robust drone policy.
• ✈️ This policy aims to ensure the safety of civilians at large gatherings like sporting events and concerts, as well as protect military personnel and assets.
• 🚨 The proliferation of drones is seen as a significant security threat, akin to the proliferation of war.