S. 1809 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, May 20, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryAdds video to espionage crime laws
The Espionage Act currently makes it a federal crime to obtain, receive, or transmit information related to national defense through certain means like photographs or documents. This bill adds video to that list of prohibited methods. Someone who uses video to steal or share national defense information would face the same penalties as someone using other methods: a fine, up to 10 years in prison, or both.
How it affects you
This change mainly affects people who work with classified national defense information and those who might attempt to spy on the U.S. Most everyday Americans won't experience a direct change, but the law would make it clearer that using drones or video cameras to capture sensitive defense information is a serious federal crime.
Read the official summary (Reported to Senate, Feb 9, 2026)
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 AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 1809
A BILL
Drone Espionage Act
Sponsor: Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL) · Introduced May 20, 2025 · Crime and Law Enforcement · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Feb 9, 2026: “Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 316.”
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 2 official versions.