The Pentagon is stepping up efforts to counter the use of drones on its campus, mirroring concerns across the federal government about how to cope with booming popular demand for the increasingly advanced and cheap technology.

At the end of February, new “No Drone Zone” signs popped up around the military headquarters bearing a standardized logo promoted by the Federal Aviation Administration. The warning is in keeping with new procedures developed by the building’s police force, known as the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, or PFPA, for how its officers should respond if they spot a drone near the building, including whether and how they can forcefully take it down.

Headline-grabbing incidents involving drones – including at the White House and one involving German Chancellor Angela Merkel – prompted this sense of urgency to prevent potential issues before they become criminal activity.

