Lawmakers Express Concerns Over Army's Decision to Scale Back Specialized Drone Warfare Unit
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has voiced significant concerns regarding the Army's recent decision to order the 173rd Airborne Brigade to cease its specialization in drone warfare and refocus on its core mission as an airborne infantry unit. This directive, issued by Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the Army’s acting chief of staff, follows the ousting of the previous Army chief of staff, Gen. Randy George, who had been a strong advocate for integrating drones into Army tactics. The lawmakers, including Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, independent Sen. Angus King, and Republican Rep. Mike Turner, sent a letter to departing Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Gen. LaNeve, requesting a briefing to understand the rationale behind this change. They highlighted that the specialized unit was a proactive response to the rapidly evolving nature of modern warfare, where uncrewed systems are becoming increasingly critical. The unit, active for less than a year, was involved in building its own... 
