FAA Admits It Can’t Track All Drones Over U.S. Airspace Amid Rising Aviation Safety Fears

The FAA’s acting chief acknowledged during a congressional hearing that the agency doesn’t know how many drones are flying in U.S. skies at any given moment — adding pressure to a system already buckling under crashes, outages, and aging tech.

Drones in the Sky, But Who’s Counting?

Chris Rocheleau, acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, had a straightforward but unsettling answer during Wednesday’s House Appropriations subcommittee hearing: the FAA can’t say exactly how many drones are flying over U.S. territory right now.

The hearing, focused on transportation funding, quickly veered into anxiety-inducing territory as lawmakers questioned the FAA’s ability to maintain oversight in an increasingly chaotic airspace. “I don’t believe I would know; the FAA would know—every single drone in the sky today,” Rocheleau said, offering little in the way of reassurance.

What’s worrisome isn’t just that hobbyists are out there buzzing neighborhoods. It’s that federal officials have to rely on law enforcement — and luck — when drones go off the radar or fly too close to restricted areas.

Deadly Crashes and System Strain Fuel Concerns

The drone tracking blind spot is only part of a bigger problem. The U.S. aviation system has been showing signs of strain for months — and the consequences have been fatal.

A Cessna 550 slammed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego in May, killing all six people onboard. Then there was the horrifying midair collision in April, when an American Airlines flight collided with a military UH-60 helicopter near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 aboard both aircraft.

Meanwhile, Newark Liberty International Airport saw two major telecommunications outages, grounding hundreds of flights. The root cause? Aging infrastructure and staff shortages in air traffic control.

Tech That Can’t Keep Up — Or Be Repaired

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy didn’t sugarcoat it. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, he described the FAA’s equipment as practically ancient. “We have to go on eBay to buy parts,” he said, half-joking.

That’s not exactly comforting.

President Donald Trump’s administration has been quick to blame the Biden-era FAA leadership for the current breakdowns. Trump’s proposed budget reconciliation bill includes a $1 billion line item to upgrade telecommunications infrastructure at the FAA.

Here’s what Duffy and other aviation officials are dealing with:

• Many radar and communication systems date back decades.

• Replacement parts are either discontinued or hard to find.

• There’s a nationwide shortage of trained air traffic controllers.

• And with drones? The tech to track them still feels like it’s playing catch-up.

Remote ID Is Here, But It’s Not a Silver Bullet

The FAA is rolling out its long-awaited Remote Identification rule. Think of it as digital license plates for drones. If it works the way it’s supposed to, officials will know exactly who’s flying where — and how.

But there’s a catch. The rule only applies to drones that are properly registered. That leaves out:

• Kids with birthday drones.

• Hobbyists unaware of the rules.

• People flying in off-limits areas — deliberately.

Rocheleau says the FAA is working with “legal operators” and testing out drone traffic management systems like the one recently demoed in Texas. But even he admits there’s a long road ahead.

“It’s an incredible system,” he said. “And it will keep count of the drones you’re talking about.”

That’s the hope. But today? The reality’s still messy.

How the Numbers Stack Up

While the FAA’s uncertainty is concerning, here’s what we do know, based on available FAA and industry data as of May 2025:

Mixed Messaging From Officials, But Flying Is Still “Safe”

Despite the chaos, federal officials insist that commercial flying is still the safest way to travel. Statistically, they’re not wrong. Plane crashes are extremely rare events — even with the recent tragedies.

But the public mood is shifting. The question now isn’t just whether you’ll survive a flight — it’s whether the system that gets you from Point A to Point B is functioning like it should.

Rep. Steve Womack, who chaired the hearing, declined to comment further through his press team. That silence speaks volumes.

Meanwhile, local law enforcement is being asked to help handle rogue drones — a task they may not be trained or equipped to handle. And the FAA? They’re relying on a patchwork of tools, rules, and goodwill.

Pressure Mounts on Congress To Act

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle seem to agree that something has to give — but consensus is harder to find when it comes to money.

Trump’s push for a larger transportation budget has some support, especially after high-profile crashes and delays. But critics argue the issue isn’t just funding — it’s execution.

Will Congress finally approve meaningful upgrades to FAA systems? That’s still unclear. But what’s certain is that flying blind — literally and figuratively — isn’t sustainable.

What’s Next for Drone Rules?

The FAA spokesperson who responded to Newsweek’s inquiries reiterated that drone laws are clear — even if enforcement isn’t.

Flying under 400 feet? Stay in sight? Don’t interfere with planes or people? Sounds simple enough. But without universal Remote ID compliance, and with more drones hitting the skies every day, the situation feels like it’s moving faster than the agency trying to regulate it.

And while tech demos in Texas look promising, it’s what happens day-to-day — in real neighborhoods, near busy airports — that really matters.

For now, the FAA has to hope their mix of cooperation, enforcement, and new tech will close the gap. But until then? The skies are a little more uncertain than most of us would like.