The FAA’s acting chief stunned lawmakers by admitting the agency doesn’t have real-time visibility of drones flying across U.S. skies—a troubling revelation as air safety concerns mount.
FAA Can’t Say How Many Drones Are Flying—That’s a Problem
Chris Rocheleau, acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, left lawmakers visibly unsettled during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Wednesday. When asked if the FAA knows how many drones are flying over the United States at any given moment, his answer was blunt: “I don’t believe I would know; the FAA would know—every single drone in the sky today.”
That answer—uncertain and hesitant—wasn’t reassuring. Especially now.
There’s been a recent string of deadly crashes, technical failures, and staffing shortages that have already shaken public confidence in the safety of U.S. air travel. Add drones into that mix—potentially thousands flying unchecked—and the picture becomes even more worrisome.
Mounting Crashes and Failing Systems Leave Air Safety on Edge
The hearing didn’t happen in a vacuum. It came on the heels of two particularly devastating accidents.
In May, a Cessna 550 crashed into a residential area in San Diego. All six people onboard died. Just a few months before that, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided midair with a military helicopter—67 lives lost in a matter of seconds.
These aren’t isolated events.
Newark Liberty International Airport, one of the country’s busiest, suffered two major telecom outages last month. Flights were delayed or canceled. Thousands were stranded. The problem? Old infrastructure and not enough air traffic controllers.
Yet, experts are still saying commercial flying is incredibly safe. Technically, they’re not wrong. But tell that to the families of 73 victims in just two recent crashes.
The Drone Gap: Why the FAA Still Can’t See What’s in the Sky
While Rocheleau admitted the FAA doesn’t have live drone data, he did offer a glimmer of hope: the agency is working with “legal operators” and testing new systems like UAS Traffic Management in Texas.
Still, that’s not enough.
There are millions of drones registered in the U.S., and untold numbers that aren’t. Some are toys flown by kids. Others are used by law enforcement, real estate agents, photographers, and yes—sometimes, bad actors.
Rocheleau put it this way: “You’ve got people who just don’t know the rules—and people who don’t care.”
Remote ID Is Supposed to Help—But It’s Not There Yet
In March 2024, the FAA officially rolled out its Remote Identification rule, which basically gives every registered drone a kind of digital license plate.
Sounds good on paper.
Here’s how it’s supposed to work:
-
Drones emit location, altitude, and ID data while flying
-
Law enforcement can access that data to monitor compliance
-
Unregistered drones are restricted to special zones called FAA-Recognized Identification Areas
The catch? It only works for drones that comply.
If someone builds a drone at home, doesn’t register it, or disables Remote ID—good luck tracking it. And without full compliance, the system’s usefulness plummets.
Lawmakers Point Fingers, But Solutions Still Lag
Representative Steve Womack, the subcommittee chair, didn’t have much to say publicly after the hearing. His press team simply said he “declined to further comment.”
Meanwhile, the Trump White House has blamed the entire FAA debacle—staffing, tech, and now drones—on President Biden. Their proposed fix? A $1 billion modernization effort tucked inside Trump’s new budget reconciliation bill.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy hasn’t minced words either. On NBC’s Meet the Press, he laid the issue bare.
“Much of the equipment we use, we can’t even buy parts for new anymore. We have to go on eBay. We’re dealing with really old equipment.”
Let that sink in.
So How Bad Is It, Really? Here’s What We Know
While drones may seem like a fringe issue compared to passenger planes or airport outages, they’re actually a growing factor in airspace risk.
The FAA doesn’t have a public, real-time drone tracker. But estimates from industry analysts and tech firms suggest anywhere between 1.5 to 2 million drones could be flying or ready to fly in the U.S.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the state of air safety stressors:
| Issue | Severity (1-10) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drone Tracking | 8 | FAA lacks real-time oversight |
| Midair Collisions | 9 | Two major crashes in 6 months |
| Telecom Infrastructure | 7 | Parts outdated; patchy system |
| ATC Staffing Shortages | 9 | Delays widespread; safety at risk |
| Equipment Modernization | 6 | Funding gaps; outdated tech |
Public Confidence? Still High—But Cracks Are Showing
Despite everything, the average traveler still feels pretty secure flying. Years of strong safety records have built trust.
But that could change.
A few more crashes. A headline about a rogue drone. A breakdown in air traffic control during holiday season. All it takes is one national story to shift sentiment.
In fact, a recent Gallup poll found 82% of Americans still consider flying “safe” or “very safe.” But among younger flyers—ages 18 to 29—that number drops to 68%. People are paying attention.
What Comes Next Is Unclear, But Pressure Is Building
The FAA is trying. Remote ID is a step forward. New management systems are being tested. Funding may soon arrive.
But none of this is happening fast enough.
Chris Rocheleau’s testimony offered an uncomfortable truth: America’s skies are becoming harder to monitor.
And the people responsible for keeping us safe admit they can’t even count what’s flying overhead.
