This morning, the U.S. administration put tariffs on imported drones. Most of the tariffs go into effect September 3, 2026, while some are delayed until February 2027. The rate is 100% for drones with infrared, or drones that weigh more than 55 pounds at takeoff.

This follows an FCC proposal last week that would use the agency's authority over radio equipment to outright ban drones falling under the same two criteria (and five additional). The agency cites national security risk. Its proposal is open for comment until September 2, 2026. Yet drones are fast becoming integral to policing. Recent reporting out of Dallas and St. Petersburg highlight the efficiencies — and privacy concerns — of sending out drones as first responders.

Cyber Risk

Public institutions are suddenly being asked to make cybersecurity a top priority. In recent weeks, almost 40 water systems in Michigan and Minnesota were attacked with malicious software. Several localities across the U.S. have made headlines for shutting down critical systems, including in California, Wisconsin, and Missouri. And some states are pouring dollars into programs aimed to beef up digital security across agencies.

Cyber risks are now reaching engineering and manufacturing. On Thursday, an extortion group called Cl0p said it breached nearly 50 companies through software used to share information in engineering and manufacturing. It named Philips, Shell, Fiserv and General Electric among the victims. The same day, CISA, the federal government’s cybersecurity agency, released a slate of new security warnings covering technology in utilities, building controls and physical operations.