Has a DJI drone been on your technology wish list? If so, you might want to get one while you still can. A vote last week by the FCC could mean that future products from drone maker DJI (and products made with some of its technology) could be banned from import and sale in the US.
The FCC voted 3-0 to “close loopholes in the FCC’s Covered List and secure America’s communication networks against devices determined to pose an unacceptable risk to national security.” In plain English, the vote opens the door to future and retroactive bans of products that use communication technology — such as DJI’s drone radio frequency technology — from import and sale in the US, in the same way it’s already banned Huawei products.
The US government has deemed DJI, based in China, as a security risk. It is also considering a separate ban on TP-Link routers.
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The vote isn’t the end of the road, however. Future bans would need to target specific products and would require a period of public consultation. But it appears the groundwork is being set for the FCC to block sales of future and some existing DJI drones from US shores, as well as products that use DJI technology.
The government has called for a DJI audit by the end of the year, but if that doesn’t happen, DJI drone products could be banned for sale by default under a national security law.
DJI responds
A representative for DJI told CNET that while the FCC vote references a rule change that doesn’t currently apply to DJI specifically, the National Defense Authorization Act deadline in December would put Chinese companies like it on the FCC’s ban list, “without any evidence of wrongdoing or the right to appeal.”
Adam Welsh, head of global policy at DJI, said the company has repeatedly said it would be open to audit, but that “more than 10 months have now passed with no sign that the process has begun.”
“The US government has every right to strengthen national security measures, but this must go hand in hand with due process, fairness, and transparency,” Welsh said.
DJI said it’s urging the government to start the audit process or grant an extension.
Will people need to give up their drones?
Because the ban would apply to new sales, not drones that have already been sold, a DJI drone you already own would still be legal to use — at least under current rules.
Government agencies, however, are prohibited from purchasing or using drones from Chinese companies, including DJI.
DJI’s drones consistently rank high in their product category. In January, they dominated CNET’s list of best drones for 2025. But some of the company’s newest products, such as the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, haven’t been available for sale in the United States.
Even DJI products that are not yet banned may be hard to find one. The website UAV Coach has posted a guide to the bans and reports that due to inventory issues, most DJI drone models are sold out at retailers regardless of future FCC action.
