The Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) banned the distribution of all new foreign-made drone models in the U.S. on Monday, citing “national security concerns.” According to the government statement, Americans who already own older foreign drone models will be able to continue using them.
FCC bans drones based on national security grounds: DJI disappointed
In a memo released Monday, the FCC claimed that “criminals, hostile foreign actors, and terrorists” could use drones to pose new and serious threats to the homeland. Therefore, the agency announced it was updating its Covered List, a list of products deemed to pose an “unacceptable risk” to national security, adding all unmanned aerial vehicles (UAS) and critical components manufactured abroad to the list.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr expressed his approval of the policy in a statement on Monday. Carr said, “I welcome this national security decision by the Executive Branch and I am pleased that the FCC has added foreign drones and related components that pose an unacceptable national security risk to the Covered List.” “Following President Trump’s leadership, the FCC will work closely with U.S. drone manufacturers to unleash American drone dominance,” the company stated.
While the new rule will affect many different companies, it will be a major blow to DJI, the Chinese drone manufacturer considered a dominant player in global drone sales. Indeed, DJI is considered one of the most popular drone brands among American consumers.
In a press statement, DJI stated that it did not endorse the decision. The company said, “DJI is disappointed that the Federal Communications Commission today added foreign-made drones to the Covered List. While DJI was not specifically targeted, no information has been released regarding what information was used in reaching the Executive Branch’s decision.”
Stating that it remains committed to the U.S. market, the company continued: “As an industry leader, DJI has championed and will continue to champion an open, competitive market that benefits all U.S. consumers and commercial users. DJI products are among the safest and most secure on the market, backed by years of review by U.S. government agencies and independent third parties.”
Trump has repeatedly taken a tough stance against Chinese companies throughout his multiple presidential terms. His administration laid the groundwork for the new drone ban with an executive order issued in June aimed at increasing U.S.-made drone production and creating a “strong and secure domestic drone industry.” This order also aimed to safeguard the U.S. drone supply chain against foreign control or exploitation.
What are your thoughts on this ban? Do you use drones, and would this decision affect your choice?
