What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
Drone Espionage Act This bill makes it a federal crime under the Espionage Act to engage in certain activities related to obtaining, receiving, or transmitting video of national defense information. The term national defense information means information or other material that is related to national defense. The Espionage Act prohibits certain activities related to obtaining, receiving, or transmitting national defense information that could harm the United States or aid a foreign nation. Under current law, the prohibitions only apply if national defense information is obtained, received, or transmitted by certain means, such as a sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, document, writing, or note. Under current law, a violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both. This bill makes the criminal prohibitions under the Espionage Act applicable if national defense information is obtained, received, or transmitted by means of video. Under this bill, a violator is subject to the same penalties as under existing law—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both.
Action Timeline
2026-02-09
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 316.
2026-02-09
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
2026-02-09
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
2026-02-05
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
2025-06-10
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Border Management, Federal Workforce, and Regulatory Affairs. Hearings held.
2025-05-20
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
2025-05-20
Introduced in Senate
Frequently Asked Questions
Did S.1809 pass?
S.1809 is still alive. Current stage: REPORTED. Pass likelihood: pending.
What does S.1809 do?
Drone Espionage Act This bill makes it a federal crime under the Espionage Act to engage in certain activities related to obtaining, receiving, or transmitting video of national defense information. The term national defense information means information or other material that is related to national defense. The Espionage Act prohibits certain activities related to obtaining, receiving, or transmitting national defense information that could harm the United States or aid a foreign nation. Under current law, the prohibitions only apply if national defense information is obtained, received, or t…
Who sponsored S.1809?
S.1809 was sponsored by Ashley Moody (R-Florida).
Full Bill Text
119 S1809 RS: Drone Espionage Act U.S. Senate 2026-02-09 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. II Calendar No. 316 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 1809 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 20, 2025 Mrs. Moody (for herself, Mr. Cotton , Mr. Lee , Mr. Budd , Mr. Moreno , Mr. Tillis , Ms. Slotkin , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Cruz , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Tuberville , Mr. Mullin , Mrs. Britt , and Mr. McCormick ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary February 9, 2026 Reported by Mr. Grassley , without amendment A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking or transmitting video of defense information, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Drone Espionage Act . 2. Taking or transmitting video of defense information prohibited Section 793 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting video, after photographic negative, each place such term appears. February 9, 2026 Reported without amendment
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