Bill would limit when government planes can hide from radar tracking
In committeeH.R. 7240Latest action
Sponsor: Tom Barrett · Representative · MI
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Military ADS–B Out Loophole Act
119th Congress
Topics: Jobs & the economy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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HR 7240 narrows a federal exemption letting government aircraft disable ADS-B Out tracking and adds mandatory reporting to Congress.
60-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
HR 7240 would require the FAA to narrowly define "sensitive government mission" so aircraft can only disable ADS-B Out tracking during the specific portion of a flight where sensitive activities occur, not for an entire flight. Government agencies would have to file regular reports with the FAA for each flight where tracking was disabled, including location, time, and reason. The FAA would report that data to Congress every six months, and if an agency disables tracking five or more times in one month, Congress must be notified within two weeks.
Who does it affect?
The bill primarily affects federal agencies such as the Department of Defense, as well as state, local, and tribal agencies that fly aircraft on sensitive government missions. Private pilots and commercial airlines are not directly affected.
Why does it matter?
Current FAA rules allow government aircraft to disable tracking for an entire flight even if only part of it involves sensitive work, leaving the exemption open to broad use without a clear standard. The bill would add review of how the exemption has been used and annual audits by the Transportation Department's beginning three years after passage.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedJan 27, 2026
- House committeeYou are here · Jan 28, 2026
- House vote
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.