There's a Federal Mandate to Encrypt
This claim is not supported by evidence.
The Claim
Police departments increasingly claim they're required to encrypt by federal mandate—that CISA, DHS, or P25 standards require full encryption of all radio communications.
The Evidence
CISA/SAFECOM explicitly says encryption is NOT required for all communications.
- Direct quote from CISA: 'Not all public safety communications need to be encrypted'
- Decision is local: 'Public safety agencies must determine what type of information should be encrypted'
- Grant requirements: Federal grants only require AES-256 standards if you choose to encrypt—they don't require encryption itself
- Interoperability concerns: CISA warns that encryption 'can also increase the system cost, and impact interoperability and public safety operations'
The Reality
When police departments claim a 'federal mandate,' they're doing one of three things:
- Confusing standards with mandates — AES-256 is required IF you choose to encrypt, but there's no requirement to encrypt at all
- Misrepresenting federal guidance to avoid community opposition and public debate
- Using 'the feds made us do it' as cover for a decision they wanted to make anyway
Ask your department: 'Can you show me the specific federal law or regulation that requires encrypting routine dispatch communications?' They won't be able to — because that law doesn't exist.
Bottom Line
When police departments make this claim, ask them for evidence. The documented facts don't support it.
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