US bans all foreign-made drones, DJI calls it ‘protectionism’
The US government has long had an uneasy relationship with DJI and other Chinese drone manufacturers; they first tried to ban DJI drones back in 2020. Attempts to fully ban it have not succeeded, but the US government’s latest trick is seemingly to just outright ban all foreign-made drones instead.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has added all foreign-made drones and drone components into the infamous ‘Covered List’—the same list that Huawei found themselves on all those years ago. This means that it’s now illegal to import them into the US.
In a statement by the FCC, the government agency claims that drones—also called unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)—and its critical components ‘must be produced in the United States’. This is because it is inherently dual-use, able to be both commercial platforms and potentially for military or paramilitary uses too. FCC chair Brendan Carr also says that this move will allow President Trump’s administration to ‘secure our airspace’ and ‘unleash American drone dominance’.
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
One important thing to note is that this doesn’t end the import, sale or use of existing drones that have already received authorisation from the FCC. It also doesn’t affect any previously bought drones, meaning any drones that were legally acquired can still be used. The FCC also points out that future drones, drone components or class of drones may still be approved for sale in the US, if it can get approval from the Department of War or Department of Homeland Security.
DJI has issued a strongly worded statement in response. On their social media platforms, the Chinese giant said:
Thank you to everyone who has been following developments in the US and speaking up. Your support means a lot
Today’s update from the FCC does not affect DJI products already in use in the US. Customers can continue to purchase and fly DJI drones as usual. The FCC also notes that new products may be cleared for launch in the future, based on determinations by the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.
Concerns about DJI’s data security are about protectionism, not evidence. DJI products remain among the safest and most secure on the market, backed by years of reviews by US government agencies and independent third parties.
While we are disappointed by this development, we remain committed to our US customers and are actively exploring paths forward. We’ll keep you informed as more information becomes available.
Thank you for standing with us.
It’s a little sad to see the US fall back into the same rhetoric that led to Huawei getting put on the same list years ago. With no more competition, it remains to be seen if consumer US drone manufacturers will continue to innovate. As for DJI, only time will tell what happens to the brand that many photographers and drone enthusiasts have come to love.
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