The Hill – Big news: the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has decided to ban the sale of new foreign-made drones in the U.S., and this happened just yesterday. They cited national security concerns as the key reason for this move.
In an official statement, the FCC added unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and their significant components from overseas to their restricted list.
This means that these products can no longer be sold or imported in the United States because they pose an “unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the safety of U.S. citizens,” according to the commission. Fortunately, this decision doesn’t impact drones that are already on the market.
The FCC pointed out that with the U.S. gearing up to host significant events like the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2026 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, there’s now a crucial need to secure U.S. airspace from threats posed by criminal groups, terrorists, and other foreign sources. They believe that permitting foreign drones and parts in the U.S. compromises the stability of our domestic drone manufacturing industry, heightens risks to national airspace, and poses a potential danger during large-scale events.
This ban aligns with Section 1709 of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act that recommended evaluating the national security threats from certain tech, including drones sold by DJI, a major player in the drone market that hails from China.
A representative from DJI expressed their disappointment regarding the FCC’s decision, highlighting that they are not aware of the information that led to their drones being included on this restricted list.
The spokesperson stated, “As the industry leader, DJI champions a fair and competitive market that benefits all consumers and businesses in the U.S., and will continue to champion this approach. Our products are some of the safest available, backed by years of evaluations by U.S. agencies and third-party experts.”
The Hill has also attempted to reach out to the Chinese Embassy in Washington for their take on this news.
This decision has been celebrated by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, which publicly applauded the FCC’s action on the platform X, asserting it will protect national security and the safety of Americans while addressing the serious threat posed by DJI and other Chinese drones.
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