U.S. Chamber Backs FAA Drone Restriction Rule for Fixed Sites

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has formally endorsed the Federal Aviation Administration's proposed rule to restrict drone flights near sensitive fixed-site facilities, backing the plan as both a security measure and a deregulatory step.

In comments filed on the FAA's notice of proposed rulemaking, Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility (Docket No. FAA-2026-4558), the Chamber said it "welcomes this opportunity to comment" on the proposal. The rulemaking would establish a formal process for restricting Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations in airspace near certain designated fixed sites.

The proposal implements Section 2209 of the FAA Extension, Safety and Security Act of 2016. The Chamber thanked the FAA for moving to create the restriction process, which Congress first directed nearly a decade ago.

The business lobby framed its support around three objectives it says the NPRM satisfies. First, it advances Congress' directive in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and other laws. Second, it supports homeland security by protecting sensitive fixed-site facilities from unauthorized drones. Third, it aligns with what the Chamber called "the Trump Administration's deregulatory agenda and drone priorities as detailed in Executive Order 14305, Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty."

The Chamber described its backing of the proposal as "strong" and said the stated objectives of the NPRM align with its positions on both security and regulatory policy.

The endorsement signals that major U.S. business interests see no conflict between tighter drone restrictions around critical facilities and a lighter-touch regulatory environment overall. For the FAA, the Chamber's support removes a potential source of industry opposition as the agency works to finalize the Section 2209 framework — a process that, once complete, will define how operators of fixed-site facilities can shield their airspace from unauthorized UAS activity.