US Government

US national security officials are grappling with a puzzling and potentially threatening series of drone sightings over key military sites, including Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and the Nevada Nuclear Security Site. Since late 2023, dozens of unidentified drones have breached restricted airspace, raising alarms among top military commanders and prompting high-level discussions in Washington, D.C.

The future of DJI drones in the US is uncertain with the Countering CCP Drones Act, aka the DJI drone ban bil, passing in the US House of Representatives and moving to the Senate. However, one of the central allegations against DJI — that it shares user data with the Chinese government — remains speculative and unsupported by evidence. And now, a new independent audit has reaffirmed that DJI employs stringent data privacy measures for US operators, with no sign of data being transmitted to China.

A new report by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) is shedding light on how restrictive drone policies have impacted the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) operations for wildfire prevention, search and rescue, scientific research, and public education efforts.

In a recent Reddit AMA, Adam Welsh, DJI’s global head of policy, candidly addressed the company’s stance on evolving US legislation, data security concerns, and a potential ban on the sale of future DJI drones in America. Welsh’s response to the most pressing question: “Will DJI abandon the US market?” is a clear “no.” Despite rising tensions, the tech giant remains committed to maintaining operations and exploring avenues to secure its foothold.

A group of lawmakers has sent a pointed letter to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), expressing concerns over the widespread use of DJI drones in American agriculture. According to these lawmakers, Chinese-made drones have the potential to compromise US food security and provide the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with access to critical data. DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer, has firmly rejected these claims, calling the allegations baseless and defending its role in the agricultural sector.

The US House of Representatives has approved a bill to ban the operation of new drones from Chinese manufacturer DJI in the United States. This legislation — HR 2864 or the Countering CCP Drones Act — is part of a broader wave of measures directed at China, which lawmakers are reviewing this week.

The world’s biggest consumer drone maker DJI has issued a detailed response to recent US congressional concerns regarding its relationship with Texas-based Anzu Robotics.

Texas-based drone firm Anzu Robotics is facing scrutiny from US lawmakers over its relationship with DJI. The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party has raised concerns that Anzu might be serving as a “passthrough” for DJI to circumvent US sanctions.

Drone maker DJI is once again urging users to arrange face-to-face meetings with US Senators and House Representatives and tell their elected officials to stop trying to restrict the drone market. The development follows the release of a statement by Senator Jon Tester claiming, “Cheap Chinese drones are flooding the American market, costing American jobs, and putting our privacy and national security at risk.”

Two US Senators have formally introduced their version of the Countering CCP Drones Act as an amendment to the Senate’s FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), reintroducing the call for a ban on the sale of new DJI drones in the US. To be clear, this amendment has not been considered yet. But tech giant DJI has expressed concerns about the recommendations outlined in the amendment, emphasizing that they are extremely problematic and damaging for the US drone industry.

Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has submitted an amendment he intends to propose to the Senate Armed Services Committee’s annual defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2025. The amendment seeks to attach the Countering CCP Drones Act to the Senate’s version of the NDAA, thus reintroducing the call for a ban on the sale of new DJI drones in the US.

Last week, DroneDJ reported that the US Senate has released its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and it does not currently include provisions that would impact your right to use DJI products in the future. While this is a positive development, drone maker DJI is quick to stress there’s more to watch out for.

US lawmakers are calling upon the Commerce Department to include Chinese drones in the evolving regulations for connected vehicles. Members of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, in particular, have outlined concerns regarding the espionage capabilities of Chinese-made drones including DJI.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has released its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which notably omits the demand to ban new DJI drones from entering the US market. The House passed its version of the bill last month with provisions to stop the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from issuing new licenses to DJI over national security concerns.

The United States has added Chinese drone maker Autel Robotics to its trade blacklist due to national security concerns. Tech giant DJI was placed on this list in 2020. But at that time, the US Department of Commerce cited “human rights abuses” as the reason behind DJI’s inclusion in its “Entity List”.

US lawmakers are urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to declassify information regarding the potential national security risks posed by Chinese-manufactured drones, particularly DJI.

Here is what’s happening with the potential ban of DJI drones in the US, and what drone pilots can expect in the weeks to come…

As Capitol Hill debates the Countering CCP Drones Act (HR 2864), an increasing number of industry professionals are coming forward to voice their opinions about the adverse effects of a potential ban on DJI drones. The latest to oppose the bill is Travis Waibel, CEO and founder of Advexure — one of the largest drone dealers and integrators in the country. He says the proposed legislation isn’t about data security at all. Then what is it about? Read on…

A new bipartisan bill has been introduced in the US Senate to keep commercial, off-the-shelf drones out of the hands of foreign terrorists.

As DJI’s future in the US hangs in the balance, a heated debate is unfolding within the commercial drone industry. Legislative efforts are underway to implement a ban on Chinese-manufactured DJI drones and bolster domestic manufacturers like Skydio and BRINC. However, it has raised deep concerns about the readiness and scalability of American drone makers to meet the market’s demands.

With Congress only hours away from deciding tech giant DJI’s future in the United States, here’s what the “Countering CCP Drones Act” (HR 2864) means for the drones you already have.