President Trump, the 119th Congress, and state legislators have taken office at a time when the U.S. is at a pivotal moment for technology innovation and adoption. Autonomous technologies and uncrewed aircraft systems are already unlocking significant benefits in both safety and technological leadership. Regulators and lawmakers at all levels of government have the potential to influence the United States’ leadership in these key areas.
As new leaders take public office, I’d like to share three overarching areas AUVSI will be tracking and engaging on in the months ahead.
MODERNIZING REGULATIONS
First, there is a need for modern, performance-based enabling regulations.
The drone and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industries require rules and regulations given the new technologies entering service. With the right regulatory framework, the U.S. can lead the world in UAS and AAM innovation and integration.
AUVSI will encourage new leadership at the U.S. Department of Transportation to streamline the rulemaking process so it is driven by enhancing safety and not hampered by bureaucracy.
This includes working with industry and government on a vision and data-driven course of action for the future of the National Airspace System (NAS), where outdated systems and infrastructures jeopardize national security and safety; implementing a risk-based approach to new regulations; and working toward a long-term certification pathway for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with a particular focus on varying levels of autonomy.
COMPETING GLOBALLY
Second, the U.S. must do more to swiftly regain global competitiveness in advanced technologies.
Without meaningful changes, the U.S. risks stalling in industries that are poised to bring immense economic and safety benefits, and the investments in local communities and jobs that will follow.
Drone cybersecurity and supply chain integrity have been points of friction for the uncrewed systems industry and customers. People’s Republic of China (PRC) drone and robotics companies have benefited from robust direct government investment and sophisticated market mechanisms, which has allowed them to flood the global market with subsidized technologies, use their monopolistic position to harm U.S. companies and workers, and then manipulate the market to their advantage by preventing access of U.S. component manufacturers into PRC-controlled industry supply chains.
The result is a series of threats to the United States, including threats to our position as a global leader in aviation, to national security, to our aviation workforce, and to our fundamental principles of human rights.
AUVSI will call on the 119th Congress and the Trump Administration to pass policies that support investments in U.S. and allied products. The U.S. uncrewed systems industry has proven it can compete and win against PRC-based companies, if given a level playing field. Doing so will allow industry to scale, drive down costs, enhance innovation, and create jobs.
STRENGTHENING THE DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE
Third, the U.S. must adopt a cohesive approach to strengthening the Defense Industrial Base and building an Uncrewed Arsenal, for Democracy.
A draft of the National Defense Industrial Strategy rightly noted the U.S. defense industrial base “does not possess the capacity, capability, responsiveness, or resilience required to satisfy the full range of military production needs at speed and scale.” This is true for drones, long-range precision munitions, shipbuilding, and more throughout our defense industry.
The solution requires the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to start placing orders. Because of inconsistent demand from the DOD, companies in the autonomous technology space struggle to scale production. Without actual orders, companies cannot build the supply chains, workforce, or production capacity needed to scale.
By placing large-scale orders for autonomous systems—not only for U.S. warfighters but for arming our allies as well—the DOD could help address the production scaling challenge. This would also send a strong deterrence signal to our adversaries, showing the U.S. is ready and capable of meeting the demands of modern warfare.
AUVSI will continue to call on leaders at the Department of Defense to place, and Congress to fund, robust orders for uncrewed systems and autonomous technologies. This will allow industry to scale and respond directly to the needs of the battlefield.
LOOKING AHEAD
AUVSI and stakeholders across the uncrewed systems industry are eager to work with lawmakers and regulators at all levels of government in 2025 to support U.S. leadership, invest in technologies and the workforce of the future, and ensure our warfighters, and those of our allies, have the tools they need to deter war or to fight and win if necessary.
Michael Robbins is president and CEO at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the world’s largest trade association for uncrewed systems, autonomy and robotics, in both the commercial and defense sectors. He joined AUVSI in 2020 and previously served as chief advocacy officer and an executive vice president.
