(The Center Square) – Louisiana State Police Superintendent Col. Robert Hodges told members of Congress on Wednesday that drone threats are emerging as one of the most urgent homeland security challenges and that Louisiana is leading the way in tackling them.
Testifying before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Hodges detailed how new authority granted under Louisiana’s We Will Act law – passed in June – has positioned the state to intercept drones that pose a credible public safety threat.
Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., praised Louisiana’s proactive approach to drone threats saying, “I hope other states follow your lead.”
“What worries me most right now is the drone threat,” the congressman said, warning that the federal government’s slow authorization process – requiring approval from multiple committees – has left a gap in response capabilities.
Although full deployment is still pending internal policy finalization, Hodges said the law marks a critical shift in enabling local law enforcement to act independently, especially at large public events.
“I’m quite certain with the landscape of events that are coming this fall, that we’ll be using that law to law enforcement’s benefit,” Hodges said.
During Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans earlier this year, law enforcement drone mitigation teams – working in conjunction with federal partners – intercepted more than 80 unauthorized drone pilots and recorded over 250 violations of airspace restrictions, according to Hodges.
That effort was enabled through expanded Temporary Flight Restrictions and a federal SEAR 1 designation, which unlocked additional security resources including more than 100 explosive-detection canine units and advanced surveillance support.
The Super Bowl operation followed a turbulent start to 2025, marked by a terrorist attack on New Year’s Day that left 14 people dead and dozens injured in the heart of New Orleans.
A vehicle deliberately rammed into pedestrians on Bourbon Street after breaching barricades at 3 a.m., an event Hodges described as “confirmed by federal partners as a terrorist attack.”
Hodges, a New Orleans native and 30-year trooper, said the Louisiana State Police took immediate control of the scene, working alongside the FBI, ATF, Homeland Security Investigations, and New Orleans Police Department.
The attack, which took place just hours before the Sugar Bowl college football playoff, forced the state to delay the game by one day while implementing an expanded security plan.
“In the wake of the attack … public safety priorities immediately shifted,” Hodges said. “Agencies across multiple states worked together to locate other potential suspects, and the rapid coordination made a huge difference.”
The months that followed tested Louisiana’s emergency response systems even further. A rare snowstorm in February dumped over a foot of snow on Southeast Louisiana, shutting down major highways and paralyzing large parts of the state just as Super Bowl preparations peaked.
Still, Super Bowl LIX went off without incident. More than 800 officers, including 500 state troopers and 300 Louisiana National Guard members, were deployed across New Orleans, including in an enhanced French Quarter security zone.
Hodges credited the seamless execution to preestablished federal partnerships and praised the SEAR 1 designation for unlocking additional gear, including robotic devices and X-ray scanners for bomb detection.
As the state turned its attention to Mardi Gras, more than 150 officers were again deployed to maintain public safety. Hodges said Louisiana’s recent experience underscores the need for continued federal investment in state-level preparedness – particularly for new and evolving threats like drones.
“We’ve dealt with IEDs, active shooters, and cyberattacks,” Hodges said. “But the one that’s keeping people up at night now is drones – and Louisiana is trying to stay ahead of the curve.”
