(The Hill) — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) banned new foreign-made drones from being sold in the U.S. on Monday, citing national security concerns.
In a notice, the FCC said it was adding uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and their critical components made in foreign countries to its covered list.
Such a distinction bars such products from being sold or imported in the U.S., as they “pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons,” the commission noted. The order does not apply to technology that has already been sold in the U.S.
Noting that the U.S. is co-hosting the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2026 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, as well as the “growing need to protect U.S. airspace” from cartels, terrorist groups and foreign governments, the FCC said that allowing foreign-made UAS and component parts to be sold in the U.S. “undermines the resiliency of our UAS industrial base, increases the risk to our national airspace, and creates a potential for large-scale attacks during large gatherings.”
The decision is in accordance with Section 1709 of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which called for an analysis of the national security risks posed by certain technologies, including those sold by DJI — a Chinese company that holds a majority of the drone industry’s market share.
A spokesperson for DJI told The Hill that it is “disappointed” by the FCC’s decision, and that “no information has been released regarding what information was used” in adding its drones and component parts to the covered list.
“As the industry leader, DJI has advocated for an open, competitive market that benefits all U.S. consumers and commercial users, and will continue to do so,” the spokesperson added. “DJI products are among the safest and most secure on the market, supported by years of reviews conducted by U.S. government agencies and independent third parties.”
The Hill has also reached out to the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. for comment on the notice.
The decision garnered praise from the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, which said on the social platform X that it “strongly supports” the FCC’s move.
The committee added that the ban “will help safeguard our national security, protect the American people, and wind down the unacceptable national security threat posed by DJI and other Chinese drones.”