The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Monday made a decision that has seismic implications for U.S. recreational and commercial drone pilots.
The FCC added drones and UAS components manufactured by China’s DJI, Autel Robotics, and other foreign companies to its Covered List—a federal blacklist that effectively bans the sale of new products in the U.S. The move is the culmination of a yearslong effort to restrict the market share of DJI, in particular, which in 2020 was estimated to be as high as 77 and 90 percent, respectively, among U.S. hobbyists and public safety agencies.
The FAA has certificated more than 480,000 remote pilots since 2016, when Part 107 opened up commercial operations with small UAS. The Wall Street Journal on Monday reported that the Pilot Institute surveyed some 8,000 of them about the FCC’s ban. About 43 percent said they anticipate an “extremely negative” or “potentially business-ending impact” to their operations. More than 8 in 10 predicted they would be out of business within two years.
The Journal reported that many U.S. pilots had been hoarding Chinese-made equipment in anticipation of the ban.
“More than 80% of the nation’s 1,800+ state and local law enforcement and emergency response agencies that operate drone programs use DJI technology; these programs will be at immediate risk if they no longer have access to the most cost effective and efficient drone technology available,” DJI wrote in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem earlier this month.
Per DJI and the FCC, the ban does not affect previously FCC-approved UAS or drones already in customers’ hands. But it does cover components such as cameras and batteries, which could make upgrading and maintaining those models more difficult.
The Pentagon and Homeland Security Department can also approve new equipment on a case-by-case basis.
“DJI is disappointed by the Federal Communications Commission’s action [on Monday] to add foreign‑made drones to the Covered List,” the company said in a statement shared with FLYING on Friday. “While DJI was not singled out, no information has been released regarding what information was used by the executive branch in reaching its determination.”
No New Drones
The FCC on Monday reiterated a long-held concern among U.S. officials—that Chinese-made drones pose “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”
That was apparently the assessment of a White House-curated “interagency body,” which recommended adding foreign UAS equipment to the Covered List.
In 2022, The Washington Post reported that DJI obscured funding that it received from Chinese state-backed entities. DJI has repeatedly denied this, as well as allegations that its drones are used to surveil people or infrastructure or transmit data to the Chinese government. In September, it lost a suit to reverse the Defense Department’s determination that it is a “Chinese military company.”
“Concerns about DJI’s data security are about protectionism, not evidence,” the manufacturer said in a statement Tuesday. “DJI products remain among the safest and most secure on the market, backed by years of reviews by U.S. government agencies and independent third parties. While we are disappointed by this development, we remain committed to our U.S. customers and are actively exploring paths forward.”
Considered cheaper but equally capable alternatives to American-made UAS, Chinese drones are widespread among U.S. private owners and commercial operators. Law enforcement and public safety agencies increasingly deploy them as first responders or to scan vast swaths of land for disaster survivors. They are also used to spray crops, inspect buildings and infrastructure, and assess property values.
However, the U.S. has aimed to ban them for years. Citing cybersecurity concerts, the Defense Department in 2017 became the first federal agency to restrict the sale of DJI drones and other equipment. Others, such as the Commerce and Treasury Departments, have followed suit. Some states, such as Florida and Arkansas, have implemented their own bans.
The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) directed the FCC to conduct a security audit on foreign drone manufacturers and make a determination on their addition to the Covered List by December 23. The FCC on Monday published a fact sheet that cited upcoming events—such as the 2026 World Cup, the U.S.’ 250th anniversary celebration, and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles—as an impetus for the decision.
Though U.S. drone operators fear negative impacts from the move, American UAS manufacturers such as Skydio, Brinc Drones, and Unusual Machines stand to benefit.
The FCC decision comes after President Donald Trump in June issued an executive order that expedited security reviews of foreign manufacturers. A second order incentivizes U.S. manufacturers to ramp up production, which could fill the vacuum created by the ban. Earlier this month, the Pentagon launched a Drone Dominance program that will spend upwards of $1 billion to produce more than 300,000 small drones by 2027.
At least a few American drone manufacturers have ties to the people behind the FCC’s ban.
Joe Bartlett, Skydio’s director of federal policy from November 2023 to January 2025, according to his LinkedIn profile, is now the deputy under secretary of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, which The New York Times reported played a role in the decision.
Donald Trump Jr., the President’s son, has been a member of Unusual Machines’ advisory board since November 2024.
