The United States has taken a major step to restrict the future sale of foreign-made drones, placing leading Chinese manufacturers on a regulatory blacklist that effectively blocks new product approvals in the American market. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Monday that it is adding foreign drone makers—including global industry leader DJI and rival Autel—to its “Covered List,” a designation reserved for companies deemed to pose unacceptable risks to U.S. national security.
The decision represents a sharp escalation in Washington’s ongoing campaign to limit Chinese technology in critical sectors, particularly as drones become more deeply integrated into public safety, infrastructure monitoring, and security operations across the country.
What the FCC Decision Changes — and What It Doesn’t
Being placed on the FCC’s Covered List does not constitute an outright ban on all foreign-made drones currently in use. Instead, the designation prevents listed companies from receiving FCC authorization to sell or import new drone models or critical components in the United States.
The FCC emphasized that the action does not affect drone models that were approved prior to the announcement. Existing products can continue to be sold, used, and operated legally, and consumers who already own such drones will not face restrictions. However, the inability to introduce new models poses a serious challenge for manufacturers whose business depends on continuous product updates.
For companies like DJI, which dominates the U.S. commercial drone market, the impact could be substantial despite the limited scope of the rule.
Congressional Pressure and Security Review
The FCC’s move follows a mandate passed by Congress in December 2024, directing the agency to add DJI and Autel to the Covered List within one year unless a national security review concluded that continued sales were safe. That review was conducted through an interagency process coordinated by the White House and delivered to the FCC over the weekend.
According to the commission, the review found that foreign-made drones and components pose potential risks related to unauthorized surveillance, the extraction of sensitive data, vulnerabilities in supply chains, and other threats that could affect U.S. homeland security.
With the findings formally submitted on Sunday, the FCC moved quickly to implement the designation the following day.
DJI Responds as Industry Concerns Grow
DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer and a major supplier to U.S. public agencies, expressed disappointment with the decision. The company said it had not been given clarity on the evidence or reasoning behind the executive branch’s conclusions.
“While DJI was not singled out, no information has been released regarding what information was used by the Executive Branch in reaching its determination,” the company said in a statement.
DJI has previously warned that inclusion on the Covered List would effectively shut it out of future product launches in the U.S. The company estimates that it supplies more than half of the commercial drones used nationwide and has said that over 80% of the country’s more than 1,800 state and local law enforcement and emergency response agencies rely on DJI technology.
The company has argued that limiting access to its drones could strain public safety operations that depend on affordable, reliable aerial tools.
Trump Administration Pushes Domestic Drone Production
The FCC action aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to reduce reliance on Chinese-made drones and promote domestic manufacturing. In June, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at strengthening U.S.-based drone production and limiting foreign involvement in critical aerial technologies.
Further restrictions may be on the way. In September, the U.S. Commerce Department said it is preparing additional rules that could tighten controls on Chinese drone imports beyond the FCC’s regulatory authority.
Sebastian Gorka, senior director of counterterrorism at the National Security Council, framed the decision as a matter of strategic necessity. Writing on X, he said drones are central to the country’s future security and should be produced domestically.
Officials have also cited heightened concerns about drone misuse at major global events, including the upcoming Olympics and the World Cup, as a factor driving stricter oversight.
Beijing Condemns U.S. Actions
China responded forcefully to the announcement. Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, accused the U.S. of stretching the concept of national security to justify discriminatory practices against Chinese companies.
He urged Washington to reverse what he described as unfair measures and to provide a level playing field for foreign firms operating in the U.S. market.
China’s Commerce Ministry echoed those objections, expressing strong opposition and warning that Beijing would take “necessary measures” to protect the legitimate rights of Chinese businesses if the U.S. continues down its current path.
Lawmakers Applaud the Move
In Congress, the FCC’s decision drew praise from Republican lawmakers who have long argued that Chinese-made drones present a counterintelligence threat.
Representative Rick Crawford said the widespread presence of Chinese drones in U.S. airspace has been a security concern for years. He argued that national security should not be compromised for the sake of lower-cost imports and described the decision as long overdue.
Supporters of the move say it signals a broader shift toward prioritizing security and supply chain resilience, even if it creates short-term challenges for drone users.
Legal Battles and What Comes Next
The FCC noted that the restrictions could be revisited. The interagency framework allows the Pentagon to determine in the future that certain drones or classes of drones do not pose security risks, which could lead to their removal from the Covered List.
Meanwhile, legal challenges are already unfolding. Earlier this month, Chinese surveillance equipment maker Hikvision filed a lawsuit challenging the FCC’s authority to block approvals for devices linked to listed companies. DJI also faced a setback in September when a U.S. judge rejected its attempt to be removed from the Defense Department’s list of companies alleged to have ties to China’s military.
