Trump Administration’s Ban on Foreign-Made Drones Starts This Week. You Can Say Goodbye to New DJI Models

On Monday, the Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) banned all new foreign-made drone models from distribution in the U.S., citing “national security concerns.” Americans who already own older foreign drone models will still be able to use those products, the government said.

In a fact sheet published Monday, the FCC claimed that “criminals, hostile foreign actors, and terrorists” could use drones “to present new and serious threats to our homeland.” As a result, the agency said it had updated its Covered List—which is a list of products that have been “deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security” of the country—to include all “UAS and UAS critical components produced abroad.”

The FCC’s chairman, Brendan Carr, expressed support for the new policy. “I welcome this Executive Branch national security determination, and I am pleased that the FCC has now added foreign drones and related components, which pose an unacceptable national security risk, to the FCC’s Covered List,” Carr said. “Following President Trump’s leadership, the FCC will work closely with U.S. drone makers to unleash American drone dominance.”

The new rule will obviously impact many companies, but it is especially damaging for Chinese drone maker DJI, which is considered the dominant player in global drone sales. DJI is one of the most popular drone brands among American consumers.

When reached for comment by TechCrunch, DJI expressed its disapproval of the decision. “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.”

The company, which remains committed to the U.S. market, added, “As the industry leader, DJI has advocated for an open, competitive market that benefits all U.S. consumers and commercial users, and will continue to do so. DJI products are among the safest and most secure on the market, supported by years of reviews conducted by U.S. government agencies and independent third parties.”

Throughout his presidency, Trump has consistently taken a hardline approach with Chinese companies. The new drone ban was preceded by an executive order passed in June aimed at boosting the production of U.S.-made drones, fostering a “strong and secure domestic drone sector,” and securing “the United States drone supply chain against foreign control or exploitation.”