FAA Implements Special Emphasis Enforcement Program for UAS Operations

On January 21, 2026, FAA updated its Compliance and Enforcement (C&E) Program in FAA Order 2150.3C with Change 13 to provide for a special emphasis enforcement program applicable to UAS operations that endanger the public, violate airspace restrictions, or further a crime. This new policy affects all agency personnel who investigate, report or process statutory or regulatory violations involving UAS.

Specifically, this change establishes new policy with C&E Bulletin 2026-1 which supersedes the previous policy in C&E Bulletin 2021-2.

The previous policy was applicable only to holders of a remote pilot certificate who engaged in conduct in violation of Part 107 that demonstrated a lack of care, judgement or responsibility. For these cases only, it made it FAA policy to proceed with both remedial legal enforcement action (revocation of the remote pilot certificate and any other airman certificates) and punitive legal enforcement action (civil penalties).

The new policy broadens the scope of when the FAA will take both remedial and punitive enforcement action, including expanding applicability to all UAS operations (not just those under Part 107). It also implements Section 6 of the 2025 Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty Executive Order by requiring legal enforcement action (not simply compliance or administrative action) when a UAS operation endangers the public, violates established airspace restrictions, or furthers another crime.

The new policy states “in connection with its regulation of small UAS, the FAA has observed a proliferation of regulatory and statutory violations evidencing a lack of qualifications because of a lack of care, judgement, or responsibility. This bulletin announces FAA sanction guidance to more effectively address such violations by remote pilot certificate holders.”

While this policy change may be viewed as simply bureaucracy at work with FAA incorporating an Executive Order into its policy, it is also the first official change to C&E policy for UAS in 5 years. The firm language in the policy leaves a foothold for hope that the administration is beginning to take this issue with the level of seriousness it deserves.