FBI Deputy Director Chris Raia warned in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital that it is "only a matter of time" before the type of drone attacks seen on battlefields overseas reach the United States, as investigators race to prepare for rapidly evolving technology that could eventually allow operators thousands of miles away to pilot aircraft targeting Americans.

Federal officials have become increasingly concerned that advances in commercially available drone technology are giving individuals and small groups capabilities once associated with larger organizations, lowering the barriers to carrying out potentially devastating attacks. Raia said the FBI is particularly focused on drones as the most pressing near-term threat, stating "the biggest threat right now, kind of the five-yard target, if you will, is going to be that threat from a drone."

The warning comes amid lessons learned from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where relatively inexpensive drones have transformed warfare by carrying out surveillance, targeting and attack missions once reserved for sophisticated military systems. Federal prosecutors point to an alleged domestic plot targeting a White House UFC event that involved plans to use explosive-laden drones as evidence that such threats are not merely theoretical.

What the Right Is Saying

Republican lawmakers and national security hawks have seized on Raia's warnings as evidence of broader vulnerabilities in U.S. domestic security infrastructure. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called for immediate increases in counter-drone funding, saying "the lessons from Ukraine should have woken us up years ago — we cannot afford to wait until American cities face what Ukrainian civilians have faced."

Conservative commentators and former homeland security officials have pushed for expanded authorities for the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. Former DHS official Miles Taylor argued in a widely-shared post that "the next 9/11 won't come from airplanes — it could come from a $500 drone with an explosive payload. We need authorities yesterday."

On the House side, Representative Mark Green, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, announced he would hold hearings on domestic counter-drone capabilities and questioned whether current federal law adequately addresses the threat scenario Raia outlined involving 5G-controlled drones operated from overseas locations.

Some Republican voices have also emphasized border security implications. Senator Rick Scott of Florida pointed to documented instances of drug cartels testing drone smuggling routes, saying "this isn't just a terrorism concern — it's a national security crisis unfolding in real time along our southern border."

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive Democrats and public safety advocates have largely welcomed the FBI's warnings, arguing they underscore the need for comprehensive federal drone legislation. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who has championed commercial drone registration requirements, said the technology is outpacing regulation and called for accelerated action on pending bills that would expand counter-drone authorities for law enforcement.

Civil rights organizations including the ACLU have urged caution alongside vigilance. In a statement, ACLU Legislative Director Scott Schoeni said the group supports measures to prevent malicious drone use but emphasized that "any expansion of surveillance or interdiction powers must include robust civil liberties safeguards and judicial oversight." The organization has advocated for clear warrant requirements before law enforcement can intercept or disable drones.

Environmental groups have also weighed in, noting that the same technology enabling potential attacks is being used by ranchers and farmers for land management. The National Farmers Union has argued that any regulatory framework should distinguish between malicious actors and legitimate agricultural use cases.

What the Numbers Show

The FBI has seized more than 300 drones and made eight arrests tied to unauthorized drone activity during the ongoing FIFA World Cup tournament, which federal authorities have described as one of the largest domestic security operations in recent U.S. history.

Current commercially available consumer drones typically rely on direct radio-frequency links, Wi-Fi-style connections or other short-range communications that require operators to remain relatively close to the aircraft — generally within line-of-sight range of several miles.

Raia said investigators are preparing for systems controlled via 5G and LTE cellular networks, which could enable operators thousands of miles away to pilot drones. "That means somebody in China can control a drone over New Orleans," he said. No such incidents have been publicly documented in the United States to date.

The Federal Aviation Administration has registered approximately 370,000 recreational drones and over 850,000 non-recreational drones as of the most recent available data. Commercial drone sales have grown at an estimated 15-20% annually, with prices for capable platforms continuing to decrease.

The Bottom Line

FBI officials say the convergence of inexpensive commercial technology, lessons from overseas conflicts, and documented domestic plotting has elevated drones to a top priority threat category. The alleged White House UFC conspiracy case, which prosecutors say involved plans for explosive-laden drones, demonstrates that such scenarios are being actively pursued by bad actors rather than merely theorized.

The bureau is encouraging the public to report suspicious drone activity, particularly from hobbyist communities who Raia said are well-positioned to identify unusual behavior. "They know better what somebody out of ordinary looks like than we do," he said.

Looking ahead, investigators expect 5G-controlled drones to represent a significant technological shift that could complicate both attribution and prevention efforts. The challenge of encrypted communications platforms remains another gap, with Raia acknowledging the bureau does not have visibility into all relevant conversations. "I think I would be foolish to think that we're in every single one of those rooms," he said.

Congressional action on drone legislation is expected to accelerate as lawmakers return from recess, with both counter-drone authorities and civil liberties protections likely to feature prominently in debate.