H.R. 2939 · 119th Congress
Drone Espionage Act
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R
KiggansSponsor14 cosponsors · 6 D, 8 R
D
Davis
MT
R
Turner
AH
R
Hamadeh
RM
R
McCormick
WBD
Bell
NL
R
LaLota
GC
D
Cisneros
RW
R
Wittman
DB
R
Bacon
EV
D
Vindman
LL
R
Lee
RM
R
Mackenzie
DM
D
Min
JG
D
Gottheimer0 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
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.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Apr 17, 2025
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.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Drone Espionage Act
Latest action (Apr 17, 2025): Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement · Origin: House · Introduced: Apr 17, 2025
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.