US Lawmakers Seek Answers on Army's Reversal of Drone Warfare Unit

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers is demanding the Army explain its recent decision to strip a Europe-based unit of its specialised drone warfare role. The move comes as global conflicts increasingly demonstrate the critical importance of uncrewed systems on the modern battlefield.

The unit in question, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, was established in November with around 600 soldiers. Its mission was to be rapidly deployable to any region where drone capabilities were needed, and it had been actively building its own drones and practicing tactics pioneered in conflicts such as the war in Ukraine.

In a letter sent Tuesday to outgoing Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and acting Chief of Staff Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the lawmakers expressed deep concern. They argue that eliminating the unit could hinder the Army's ability to learn from allies like Ukraine and slow down the modernisation of drone warfare at a critical time.

The letter was signed by Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, independent Sen. Angus King, and Republican Rep. Mike Turner. They described the unit as a prudent response to a period where the character of warfare is changing faster than conventional forces can adapt.

The lawmakers are seeking a formal briefing to understand the data and analysis behind the decision, which comes less than a year after the unit was activated. They also want to know whether the order originated from Pentagon leadership or was an internal Army choice.

Gen. LaNeve, who recently took over as the Army's top uniformed officer, ordered the battalion to return to its core mission as an airborne infantry unit. This change follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's abrupt dismissal of the previous Army chief, Gen. Randy George.

Gen. George had been a strong proponent of integrating drones into standard Army tactics. Along with Secretary Driscoll, he had launched the Army Transformation Initiative, which aimed to incorporate modernised unmanned aircraft systems into regular formations. Driscoll had also focused on streamlining the process for contractors to develop drones more quickly.

Driscoll has since submitted his own resignation, though no official reason has been given. The lawmakers noted their support for the transformative initiatives pursued under Driscoll's leadership and urged that this momentum be maintained despite the changes in leadership.