US House Rejects ROTOR Act After Pentagon Withdraws Support
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The U.S. House rejected a bipartisan aviation safety bill after the Pentagon abruptly withdrew its support, stalling key technology mandates for aircraft.
Key Takeaways
- •Rejected the ROTOR Act by a 264-133 vote, failing to secure a two-thirds majority.
- •Failed after the Pentagon withdrew support, citing national security and budgetary risks.
- •Stalls mandate for ADS-B tracking technology recommended by the NTSB since 2008.
A significant bipartisan aviation safety bill was defeated in the U.S. House of Representatives after the Department of Defense abruptly withdrew its support, stalling a legislative effort prompted by a fatal midair collision. The House rejected the Restricting Operations That Overlook Risks (ROTOR) Act on February 24, 2026, by a vote of 264-133, failing to achieve the two-thirds majority required for passage under the special rules it was considered under.
The bill's failure represents a major setback for safety advocates, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which has long pushed for the technology at the heart of the legislation. The ROTOR Act would have mandated the installation of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology on most aircraft operating in U.S. airspace. This vote halts progress on a key NTSB safety recommendation and highlights a growing tension between civilian air safety requirements and military operational security concerns.
Legislative and Political Reversal
The ROTOR Act's journey through Congress was marked by strong bipartisan backing until its final stage. The legislation had previously passed the U.S. Senate with unanimous approval in December 2025. However, momentum collapsed just before the House vote when the Department of Defense (DOD) reversed its position on February 23, 2026. The Pentagon cited "unresolved budgetary burdens and operational security risks" as the reason for its withdrawal of support.
This last-minute change proved decisive, swaying a significant number of lawmakers. According to the U.S. House of Representatives vote tally, more than 130 Republicans voted against the measure. Opponents, echoing the DOD's concerns, argued that the bill's requirements were too broad. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., stated the bill would "undermine our national security" by "requiring our fighters and bombers and highly classified assets to regularly broadcast their location." Proponents, however, were left frustrated. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy commented before the vote, "The ROTOR Act would've saved lives. How many more people need to die before we act?"
Some House Republicans voiced support for an alternative proposal, the Aviation Location-based Emergency Response and Tracking (ALERT) Act, though its path forward remains unclear.
The Collision That Spurred Action
The push for the ROTOR Act was a direct legislative response to a deadly midair collision in January 2025. The incident, which occurred in the congested airspace near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), resulted in the deaths of 67 people. The NTSB, the independent U.S. government agency that investigates transportation accidents, concluded that the collision could have been prevented if the involved aircraft had been equipped with the collision-avoidance technology mandated in the bill.
The NTSB has advocated for wider adoption of ADS-B technology since as early as 2008. The technology provides pilots with a precise, real-time view of surrounding air traffic, greatly enhancing situational awareness and reducing the risk of midair collisions. While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) already requires ADS-B Out for aircraft in most controlled airspace, the ROTOR Act sought to expand this mandate and limit exemptions, particularly for military aircraft that frequently operate in the same airspace as commercial and general aviation traffic.
What Comes Next
Despite the legislative defeat, proponents of the bill have vowed to continue their efforts. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a co-author of the bill, characterized the outcome as a "temporary delay." The future of the legislation is now uncertain. Any renewed effort will likely require extensive negotiations with the DOD to address its security and budgetary concerns.
Lawmakers may attempt to attach similar provisions to a larger, must-pass piece of legislation, such as the annual defense authorization bill or a future FAA reauthorization. However, the stark opposition voiced in the House suggests that finding a compromise that satisfies both civil aviation safety advocates and national security officials will be a significant challenge.
Why This Matters
This vote exposes a critical friction point between the imperatives of national security and the regulations governing civil aviation safety. The failure of the ROTOR Act leaves a known safety gap unaddressed, a gap the NTSB believes contributed to a preventable tragedy. The outcome raises fundamental questions about how to modernize and integrate air traffic control systems to safely accommodate the complex needs of both military and civilian airspace users.
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Written by Ujjwal Sukhwani
Aviation News Editor & Industry Analyst delivering clear coverage for a worldwide audience. Covers flight operations, safety regulations, and market trends with expert analysis.
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