US Government

The day much of the US drone community has been dreading is officially here. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken its most decisive step yet against foreign-made drones, adding DJI, Autel, and other overseas manufacturers to its national security “Covered List.” The move effectively blocks new drone models from entering the US market, marking the end of weeks of uncertainty, reviews, and waiting, as federal agencies ran out the clock on whether companies like DJI would ever clear long-promised security audits.

For years, Washington’s concerns about DJI have largely played out at the policy level: bans, warnings, executive orders, and legislation aimed squarely at the world’s largest civilian drone manufacturer. Now, that approach appears to be shifting. Instead of focusing only on DJI, US lawmakers are now publicly calling out individual American companies they believe may still be using Chinese drones at some of the country’s most sensitive sites.

With less than three weeks to go before a sweeping US sales ban on new DJI gear could take effect, the world’s largest drone maker is making its most urgent appeal yet. DJI has sent letters to five major US national security agencies, pleading for something it says it has been requesting for months: a government-mandated security review.

Zipline just scored a massive win: a $150 million US State Department investment to help African nations scale the world’s largest medical drone network, tripling access to lifesaving deliveries of blood and medicine.

DJI just posted one of its most urgent public messages yet, and if you’ve struggled to find certain DJI drones on US shelves lately, you’ll understand why. A little-known deadline in Congress is now only weeks away, and it could cut Americans off from all future DJI product launches unless Washington acts.

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.

DJI is pushing back against what it says is an unjust US ban effort. The world’s biggest drone maker has filed an appeal after a federal court upheld the Pentagon’s “Chinese Military Company” label — a decision that keeps DJI on a blacklist threatening its access to government contracts and US markets.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is tightening its grip on foreign-made technology, and drone maker DJI may soon feel the heat. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has announced that the agency will vote on new rules allowing it to revoke certifications for previously approved devices deemed national-security risks.

DJI has issued a sharp response to last week’s US court ruling that keeps the company on the Pentagon’s blacklist of “Chinese military companies.” While the world’s largest drone maker is disappointed by the decision, it emphasizes that the court has actually validated its long-standing claim: DJI is not controlled by China’s government, nor is it tied to the military.

A US federal judge has just delivered a big blow to DJI, ruling that the world’s top drone maker will remain on the Pentagon’s blacklist of companies tied to China’s military.

Imagine your town’s search-and-rescue team grounded during a wildfire. Or your local police department unable to deploy drones to find a missing child. That’s not a far-off hypothetical — it’s a very real threat facing thousands of public safety agencies, farmers, and small businesses as Congress weighs the future of DJI drones in the US.

The US Commerce Department has officially opened a Section 232 national security investigation into the import of drones and their components, a move that could significantly reshape the American drone industry and limit the future of major Chinese players like DJI and Autel Robotics.

DJI and Autel Robotics — two of the biggest names in the drone industry — are once again at the center of a political firestorm. Key House Republicans are calling on the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to urgently investigate whether drones made by these Chinese manufacturers pose an unacceptable national security threat to the United States.

DJI, the world’s leading drone manufacturer, has issued a public message to American drone users: the future of DJI drones in the US is in jeopardy — and it’s not because of any new law, but due to a national security review that hasn’t even started.

President Donald Trump has signed two significant executive orders — “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty” and “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” — marking a major shift in US drone policy. These directives aim to enhance national security and invigorate the domestic drone industry, particularly in anticipation of major events like the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.

DJI, the world’s leading civilian drone manufacturer, has embraced the possibility of a US executive order that could restrict Chinese drone companies, viewing it as an opportunity to validate its security protocols.

A sweeping move by the White House to restrict Chinese drone companies could ironically end up helping one of the biggest players at risk: DJI. While recent headlines have framed the forthcoming Trump executive orders as a death knell for Chinese drone makers, the reality is more complicated — and possibly more hopeful for DJI.

China has dropped the hammer on 11 US-based drone manufacturers — including Skydio, BRINC Drones, and Boeing-owned Insitu — by placing them on its “unreliable entity” list, a move that subjects these companies to sweeping trade sanctions and export restrictions.

It looks like DJI is calling the US government’s bluff. With the threat of a looming ban, the Chinese drone giant is demanding a security audit — before time runs out.

For the last year, we’ve been on the edge of the fear of losing brand new DJI drones if the United States bans them from being imported. We’re also on the backend of the company’s third generation (give or take) of its main lineup of camera drones: Mini 4 Pro, Air 3S, and Mavic 3 Pro. Will these drone replacements make it to us?

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has updated its list of Chinese companies alleged to have connections with China’s military, officially known as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The most notable new name on the list for DroneDJ readers is Autel Robotics.