In November 2019, the U.S. Department of Interior made the decision to ground its 531-strong drone force, with the exception of drones being used for emergency purposes such as fighting wildfires and conducting search and rescue missions.

The move came as the result of growing concerns that espionage technology was embedded in the drones. This is part of a broader based concern that drones and other computing components have the potential of gathering information, spying on domestic activities, and releasing harmful malware. The Department of Interior’s concerns were that drones could be used to transmit data, including topography and video, of sensitive U.S. infrastructure that may be the subject of future physical or cyberattacks.