The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has implemented a significant policy change regarding the importation of foreign-made drones into the United States. As of Monday, new drones from overseas will be banned unless they receive recommendations from either the Department of Defense (DoD) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This move adds drones to the FCC’s Covered List, categorizing them as communication equipment that poses “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”
The decision particularly affects well-known manufacturers such as DJI, a leading drone manufacturer based in China. In response to the FCC’s action, Adam Welsh, DJI’s head of global policy, expressed disappointment, emphasizing that while the company was not specifically targeted by the regulation, there has been a lack of transparency regarding the criteria used by the Executive Branch to arrive at this conclusion. Welsh reaffirmed DJI’s commitment to the U.S. market and assured customers that existing products will continue to function without disruption.
This regulatory action aligns with the FCC’s past measures to restrict foreign technological equipment. Other prominent items on the FCC’s Covered List include Kaspersky anti-virus software, which was added in 2024, as well as telecommunications equipment from Huawei and ZTE, both of which were included in 2021.
The impetus for this new policy stems from a National Security Determination issued on December 21st by an interagency body. This determination outlined that uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and vital UAS components made outside the United States could facilitate “persistent surveillance, data exfiltration, and destructive operations” over U.S. territory. Additionally, U.S. cybersecurity and infrastructure guidelines have repeatedly warned that foreign-made UAS can be employed to harvest sensitive information or provide unauthorized remote access, potentially leading to operations being disabled via software updates.
For consumers who already own foreign-made drones, the FCC has clarified that these devices can still be used without any immediate changes. Moreover, drones or drone components could be removed from the Covered List if a specific determination by the DoD or DHS concludes that they do not present unacceptable risks.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr remarked on the potential benefits of unmanned aircraft systems, stating that they could enhance public safety while also bolstering America’s position in global innovation.
