Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The ban doesn’t ground existing drones.
- While the ban will affect any new products, existing products remain on sale.
- The ban could have a significant impact on businesses and jobs.
OK, if you’re a drone operator in the US, then you’ve likely seen the headlines about the “DJI drone ban” that kicks in today.
But what does this mean? Is your drone going to suddenly fall from the sky? Are the Feds going to kick your door down if you try to fly it? Is this just bureaucratic red tape that doesn’t affect you?
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Let’s take a look at what’s happening between the US government, DJI, other drone manufacturers, and decipher what that means for you.
Why is this in the news today?
The reason this is in the news today — Dec. 23, 2025 — is that this was the deadline set for a national security audit to be completed on DJI, along with all other foreign drone manufacturers. Well, that audit wasn’t completed. In fact, it wasn’t even started. That’s not the fault of DJI, either; it’s down to the fact that no agency was ever tasked with the job of conducting the audits.
So, the deadline came and went, and the audit wasn’t completed, resulting in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adding foreign drone companies to its list of communications equipment and services that are deemed “to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the US or the security and safety of US persons.” The list has already been home to companies such as Kaspersky, HTC, and Huawei.
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This means that any company manufacturing “uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components produced in a foreign country and all communications and video surveillance equipment and services listed in Section 1709(a)(1) of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act” will not get FCC approval for new products. However, old stock can be sold.
Other DI products are affected
This doesn’t just apply to drones. The ban also affects DJI action cameras, gimbals, and microphones. As a result, the ban extends beyond affecting drone operators and impacts nearly anyone in the US who has invested in DJI products, which could have significant repercussions. Just last month, Digital Camera World interviewed Adam Welsh, DJI’s head of global policy, who claimed that the company’s products support “about 460,000 jobs and about $116 billion worth of economic activity.”
However, and this is where it gets confusing, the US government could push the FCC to revoke the certification for existing products; products already on store shelves could be banned from sale. Currently, however, it appears that this has not had an impact on existing products (and DJI has confirmed to ZDNET that this remains the case).
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There’s also the issue of warranty and servicing. Drones can and do crash, and DJI in particular has offered excellent warranty replacements and repairs. The FCC ban could impact parts availability and warranty replacements. In fact, over the past few months, I’ve come across several reports of people’s warranty replacement drones being stuck in customs for an extended period, or in some cases being rejected.
What’s the risk of foreign-made drones?
Does the US government have a reason to be wary of foreign drones? There’s no evidence being made public of any risk, and other governments don’t seem to be that worried about foreign drones (although there have been some reports of “concerns” about drones flying over sensitive sites in the UK).
Are there any companies in a position to take over from DJI in terms of consumer and commercial drones? Put simply, no. DJI is years ahead of the competitors, although companies are sitting on the sidelines hoping to cash in. One such company is Unusual Machines, a Florida-based drone firm that appointed Donald Trump Jr. as an adviser last year.
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What does the future hold for DJI and drones in general? Right now, it’s impossible to say. It’s unlikely that the US government will back down anytime soon, so the ban is likely to remain in place. And with no domestic drone companies ready to fill the gap, it’s likely that drone usage will stagnate, and that hobbyists and companies — both small and large — that have built businesses around drones will suffer.
