23rd December 2025 – (Washington) The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has moved to bar approvals for new models of foreign‑made drones and components, adding China’s DJI, Autel and all other overseas manufacturers to its “Covered List” of entities deemed to pose unacceptable risks to national security.
Under the decision announced on Monday, DJI, Autel and other non‑U.S. drone makers will no longer be able to secure mandatory FCC certification for the import or sale of new drone models or key components in the United States. Existing devices already authorised by the FCC are unaffected; imports, sales and use of previously approved models may continue, and consumers can legally operate drones they already own, the regulator said.
The action marks a notable escalation in Washington’s efforts to curb Chinese drones. In September, the Commerce Department signalled forthcoming rules to restrict imports of Chinese drones. The FCC said its move followed a White House‑convened interagency review, delivered on Sunday, that concluded imported drones and parts present security risks arising from unauthorised surveillance, sensitive data exfiltration, supply‑chain vulnerabilities and other threats. The review also left scope for the Pentagon to determine that certain models or classes of drone do not pose risks and to exempt them from restrictions.
DJI, the world’s largest dronemaker and supplier of more than half of commercial drones in the US, said it was disappointed with the decision to add foreign‑made drones to the Covered List, noting it had not been singled out and that no supporting information from the Executive Branch had been released. The company has previously warned the designation would effectively prevent it from introducing new models in the U.S. market. DJI has also said that over 80 percent of the more than 1,800 state and local law‑enforcement and emergency response agencies with drone programmes in the U.S. use its technology, and that these programmes will be at risk if access to cost‑effective systems is curtailed.
Republican Representative Rick Crawford welcomed the move, calling the widespread presence of Chinese‑made drones in U.S. airspace a counter‑intelligence “nightmare” and arguing that national security should not be traded for low‑cost products. Officials, including the FCC and former President Donald Trump, have cited the forthcoming Olympics and the World Cup as heightening concerns over potential drone misuse. In June, Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on Chinese drone firms; a National Security Council official said ensuring drones are made in the United States is integral to future security.
Separately, Chinese manufacturer Hikvision has petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to challenge the FCC’s broader policy that blocks new approvals for devices containing parts from Covered List entities and, in some cases, permits the agency to bar previously approved equipment. In September, a U.S. judge rejected a DJI attempt to be removed from the Defence Department list of companies alleged to have ties with the Chinese military.
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