H.R. 6460, Recreational Drone Empowerment Act

February 3, 2026

Cost Estimate

As ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on December 18, 2025

H.R. 6460, Recreational Drone Empowerment Act As ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on December 18, 2025
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars		2026	2026-2030	2026-2035
Direct Spending (Outlays)		0	0	0
Revenues		0	0	0
Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit		0	0	0
Spending Subject to Appropriation (Outlays)		*	*	not estimated
Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036?	No	Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply?		No
	No	Mandate Effects
Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036?	No	Contains intergovernmental mandate?		No
	No	Contains private-sector mandate?		No
* = between zero and $500,000.

H.R. 6460 would expand the areas in which recreational drones are authorized to fly. CBO expects that implementing the bill could affect the Federal Aviation Administration’s costs to regulate and enforce the use of drones; however, we estimate that those costs would total less than $500,000 over the 2026-2030 period. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aaron Krupkin. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

Phillip L. Swagel Director, Congressional Budget Office

Phillip L. Swagel

Director, Congressional Budget Office