New DJI models and all other foreign-made drones added to US government blacklist
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on December 22, 2025, that it will add several foreign-made drones, including China's DJI, the world's largest drone manufacturer, to its 'Covered List,' which has been determined to pose an 'unacceptable risk to U.S. national security.' Products on the list will no longer be approved for U.S. export, effectively restricting their sale and import.
US adds new models of China's DJI and all other foreign-made drones to its blacklist | South China Morning Post
Trump Administration Declares Foreign-Made Drones a Security Threat - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/us/dji-drones-china-barred-us.html
According to the FCC, an 'Interagency Review of the Risks of Foreign-Made Drones' was held at the White House on December 21, 2025. Following the review, the FCC decided to ban Chinese drones.
The new regulations cover not only drones themselves, but also components such as data transmitters, communication systems, motors, and batteries. The following is the FCC's Covered List , which lists 'communications equipment and services that government agencies have determined pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States.' The December 22, 2025, update to the list includes 'foreign-manufactured unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and critical components thereof, and all communications and video surveillance equipment and services described in Section 1709(a)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.' While DJI and other companies are not specifically named at the time of writing, the list now includes a very broad category: 'foreign-manufactured drones and their critical components.'
A fact sheet released by the FCC states, 'This decision helps restore our nation's airspace sovereignty and unleash America's drone advantage without interfering with the continued use of previously authorized drones.' The fact sheet also states that as the United States prepares to host major events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the 2026 Fourth of July Independence Day celebrations, and the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, the FCC is taking additional measures, including drone restrictions, to protect the safety of its citizens and restore airspace sovereignty.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated, 'This action will not prevent the continued use or purchase of previously authorized drones, and will accomplish this by taking appropriate measures to delist drones that do not pose a risk.' He explained that previously purchased or acquired drones can continue to be used, and that retailers can continue marketing or importing device models approved through the FCC's equipment authorization process before early 2025. Chairman Carr emphasized the importance of strengthening drone regulations, saying, 'Drones have the potential to enhance public safety and solidify America's leadership in global innovation. However, criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign powers are increasingly weaponizing drone technology, creating serious new threats to the United States.'
Today, based on an Executive Branch national security determination, the FCC has added foreign-produced UAS (drones) and foreign-produced UAS critical component parts to the FCC's Covered List on a going forward basis.
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) December 22, 2025
President Trump has been clear that his Administration will… pic.twitter.com/tVLlsBeOfw
DJI has been affected by the US government's tightening restrictions on Chinese-made drones, including being added to the US Department of Defense's ' China Military-Associated Entity List ' in 2022. DJI filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Defense, claiming that it had been unfairly criticized for being added to the China Military-Associated Entity List. Although the court found that DJI was not directly related to the Chinese military industry, it ruled that 'the Department of Defense has broad discretion over companies on the China Military-Associated Entity List.'
Furthermore, in June 2025, President Trump signed an executive order making it difficult to sell new Chinese-made drones in the U.S., with the aim of reducing America's reliance on Chinese drone manufacturers. Additionally, the U.S. passed the Chinese Communist Party Drone Countermeasures Act in 2024, which denies DJI access to the frequency bands used for drone communications and control.
President Trump's order could prevent Chinese drone makers such as DJI from releasing new models in the US - GIGAZINE
In response to the FCC's decision, DJI issued a statement saying, 'We are disappointed with this outcome. No information has been made public about what information the government used in making its decision.' A DJI spokesperson added, 'Concerns about DJI's data security are not based on evidence, but rather reflect protectionism that runs counter to open market principles.' The company stated that it will continue to focus on the US market.
DJI controls 75% of the global drone market, and in the United States, more than 80% of law enforcement and emergency response agencies with drone programs use DJI technology. 'DJI will continue to innovate as a company and continue to offer products in other countries, but we will no longer have access to them. It's a shame,' said Dakota Bartels, CEO of FlyGuys, a U.S. commercial drone company. According to Bartels, American-made drones are about four times more expensive than DJI's and are about half the quality.
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in Hardware, Posted by log1e_dh