Florida Senator Rick Scott is turning up the heat on Chinese drone giant DJI and on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is preparing to give itself sweeping new powers to ban previously approved devices from the US market.
In a letter sent Monday to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Scott praised the agency’s forthcoming vote on a proposal that would allow the FCC to revoke certifications for equipment already authorized if it’s later deemed a national security risk. The senator urged the commission to use that new power “swiftly and decisively” against DJI and Autel Robotics, two major Chinese drone makers long in his crosshairs.
“This initiative represents an important step toward strengthening our nation’s supply chain security and closing regulatory gaps,” Scott wrote, adding that DJI has a “consistent pattern” of evading oversight by creating new shell companies to sneak products through US certification channels. He cited reports that FCC filings for a newly formed entity, Lyno Dynamics, appeared to feature DJI’s logos — evidence, he said, of ongoing efforts to “undermine both the intent and effectiveness of US law.”
The FCC’s upcoming vote, expected within days, could significantly alter how the US handles technology from countries it deems to be security threats. Under the proposed rule, the agency would gain the ability not only to block new authorizations for companies on its “Covered List,” such as Huawei and Hikvision, but also to revoke existing approvals for devices if new concerns arise.
FCC Chairman Carr has framed the measure as a “long-standing, bipartisan effort” to ensure “foreign adversary-controlled devices” don’t enter — or stay in — the US market. That could spell trouble for DJI, already listed by the Pentagon as a “Chinese military company” and restricted in multiple federal agencies.
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While the proposal doesn’t mention specific firms, its broad scope means DJI could face direct consequences. Without FCC certification, no new DJI drones could be imported, marketed, or sold in the United States. Retailers wouldn’t be able to restock shelves. Repair shops couldn’t source replacement parts. Even firmware updates requiring FCC compliance could be stalled.
The good news for current users? The FCC’s move wouldn’t disable drones already sold. But it could effectively freeze DJI’s US business, turning its existing fleet into hard-to-find collector’s items almost overnight.
Scott’s letter calls on the FCC to go beyond merely tightening rules — urging it to rescind existing DJI and Autel authorizations issued after the passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). That law already mandates a national security review of DJI by December 23, 2025. If the review doesn’t clear the company, DJI could automatically land on the FCC’s Covered List by default.
To reinforce the agency’s hand, Scott asked the FCC to also:
- Deny new licenses for devices containing DJI or Autel components or software;
- Strengthen corporate disclosure rules to prevent shell companies from masking ownership; and
- Enforce strict transparency standards in FCC filings.
“For years, I’ve worked to reduce the United States’ dependence on foreign suppliers, especially Communist China, for critical drone technologies,” Scott said. “This proposed order can be an integral part of reclaiming America’s leadership in the global drone market.”
DJI, which controls more than 70% of the global consumer drone market, has repeatedly denied that it poses a security threat or shares data with the Chinese government. It also builds privacy controls directly into its systems, allowing users to keep flight data offline — a fact some industry experts say complicates the national-security narrative.
Still, Washington’s patience appears to be wearing thin. The FCC’s new rules, combined with mounting pressure from lawmakers like Scott, could finally determine whether DJI remains part of America’s drone landscape — or becomes another casualty of tightening US-China tech restrictions.
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