DJI faces U.S. ban on new drone models

On Monday, the Federal Communications Commission (the U.S. communications regulator) officially banned the distribution of all new foreign-made drone models within the United States. The regulatory action, implemented under the Trump administration, prevents new foreign drone models from being distributed in the domestic market. However, the ban does not apply retroactively to existing devices. The government stated that Americans who already own older foreign drone models will still be able to use those products without interruption.

The Federal Communications Commission justified the restriction by adding foreign drones and related components to its Covered List. The Covered List is a registry of products that have been officially deemed to pose an “unacceptable risk to the national security” of the United States. In a fact sheet published on Monday, the agency asserted that “criminals, hostile foreign actors, and terrorists” could use drones to present new and serious threats to the homeland. Brendan Carr, the chairman of the FCC, approved the policy. Carr welcomed the national security determination, stating that he was pleased the agency added foreign drones and related components to the Covered List due to the unacceptable national security risk they pose.

The new policy is expected to heavily impact DJI, a Chinese drone manufacturer that is considered to be one of the most popular drone brands for American consumers. Although the regulation does not single out DJI by name, the company expressed disappointment with the decision. DJI noted that the executive branch has not released the specific information used to reach its determination. In an official statement, the company said: “DJI is disappointed by the Federal Communications Commission’s action today to add foreign‑made drones to the Covered List. While DJI was not singled out, no information has been released regarding what information was used by the Executive Branch in reaching its determination.”

This regulatory shift aligns with a broader trend in U.S. policy aimed at securing domestic technology supply chains against foreign control or exploitation. The groundwork for the ban was established in June, when an executive order was passed to boost the production of U.S.-made drones and foster a secure domestic drone sector.

Why it matters

This regulatory shift marks a significant escalation in U.S. efforts to secure the domestic drone supply chain, directly impacting companies like DJI and signaling a tougher stance on foreign-made technology.