On June 6, the Trump administration issued an executive order aimed at boosting innovation in the U.S. drone industry and strengthening the domestic drone supply chain. The directive expands routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for UAS for commercial and public safety purposes and streamlines approval and certification processes, as well as broadens the adoption of Remote ID detection technologies, empowering authorities to protect the public from inappropriate drone use.
These are positive developments and we commend the administration’s efforts to modernize regulations, support safe drone operations, and encourage investment in the U.S. drone ecosystem. We have long advocated for the advancement and growth of the U.S. drone ecosystem and will continue to do so to reflect the positive impact of drones across many industries and communities. We believe all manufacturers - regardless of country of origin - should benefit from transparent, evidence-based standards that ensure innovation and fair competition serve end users.
But for DJI and the thousands of American drone users who use our technology every day, there is still a key pressing issue that remains unresolved: the overdue security review that would determine whether our new products will continue to be accessible in the U.S. market beyond December.
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Quick Refresher: What is the “NDAA Deadline”? In December 2024, Congress passed the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included a key requirement for a national security agency to conduct a formal assessment of drones manufactured in China. This was meant to provide an evidence-based process to inform any decisions that could affect user access to existing drone technology. But more than six months have passed, and that process still hasn’t begun - as far as we can tell. In March 2025, we penned a letter formally urging relevant agencies to fulfill this obligation set out by Congress. We made clear then - as we do now - that we welcome the opportunity to participate in a rigorous, transparent and fair audit. We believe our products can stand up to scrutiny because our security protections and data privacy controls are real and robust. Since 2017, we have also submitted our products to certifications and regular security audits by industry experts and federal agencies. But if no agency steps forward and completes the review by the December 2025 deadline, the NDAA provision could trigger an automatic ban on DJI - through no fault of our own, but simply because no agency chose to take on the work of reviewing our products. |
America’s Drone Community Deserves Due Process
This executive order rightly focuses on expanding drone innovation and strengthening the U.S. industry. But it does not address a pressing issue faced by the most widely-used and thoroughly tested drone platforms on the market - which would have devastating ramifications on the U.S. drone ecosystem.
Thousands of businesses, public safety officials, farmers, entrepreneurs, and others would be cut off from essential tools that enable them to operate safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively. The ripple effects would extend across the U.S. economy, threatening jobs, stalling innovation, and undermining public safety capabilities.
We are ready for the audit. We’ve repeatedly said this in letters, in meetings, and in public. Now it’s time for a fair and transparent process to move forward, because the future of drone access in America shouldn’t be decided by inaction.
We will continue to actively engage with relevant U.S. authorities, encouraging them to undertake a rigorous audit that allows for meaningful dialogue, clarification, and evidence-based evaluation.
If you are a DJI operator, what happens next could directly affect you. We’re deeply grateful to the drone community for speaking up so far, and we encourage you to keep going. Share your story with your elected representatives and let them know how you use DJI technology to serve your community, protect lives, grow your business, or deliver essential services.
Together, let’s keep innovation flying and make sure the future of drones in America is built on facts, fairness, and the voices of those who depend on them every day. We believe that everyone should have the right to pick the best tools for their operation, especially when that operation may involve fighting wildfires and saving lives. And we also believe the whole industry will get better and innovate faster by competing head-to-head on a level playing field.
Visit www.droneadvocacyalliance.com to take action and make your voice heard now.
Thank you for standing with us.
