VAI Debrief: Analysis of executive orders reshaping drone policy and low-altitude airspace New directives accelerate BVLOS rulemaking, eVTOL integration, and airspace security measures. On Jun. 6, 2025, the Trump administration issued two sweeping executive orders—Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty and Unleashing American Drone Dominance—that significantly reshape drone policy, advance the integration of new technologies into the US National Airspace System (NAS), and could affect all low-altitude flight operations. These directives establish aggressive timelines for FAA action on beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) rules, launch a national pilot program for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) operations, and accelerate the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs, or drones) into the NAS. The orders also emphasize building a secure, US-based drone manufacturing supply chain and enhancing federal authority to detect, track, and restrict drone operations in sensitive areas. To learn how this rule could affect you, review the member-exclusive VAI Debrief on these new directives; readers without a VAI membership can review the executive orders here: • Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty • Unleashing American Drone Dominance. Note: To learn how the executive orders could affect you, review the member-exclusive VAI Debrief. To view the VAI Debrief, members must log in. For additional questions on these executive orders, contact Amber Harrison, VAI director of regulatory affairs, at AmberH@verticalavi.org.
