The Trump administration's latest ban on Chinese-made drones has been an effort years in the making.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced Monday that it will ban foreign-made drones, keeping Chinese-made drones by Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI) and Autel blocked out of the U.S. market.
"I welcome this Executive Branch national security determination, and I am pleased that the FCC has now added foreign drones and related components, which pose an unacceptable national security risk, to the FCC's Covered List. Following President Trump's leadership, the FCC will work closely with U.S. drone makers to unleash American drone dominance," FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said in a statement. (RELATED: China's Supersonic Spy Drone Unit May Be Fully Operational, Leaked Docs Show)
In 2021, Carr called for a ban on foreign-made drones, alleging that DJI's drones "collect troves of sensitive data, from images of U.S. critical infrastructure to sensing body temp & heart rates."
New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik and then-Wisconsin Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher similarly called for a ban in 2023 with the introduction of the Countering CCP Drones Act, which would have banned DJI drones by adding them to the FCC's Covered List. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Reps. Stefanik, Gallagher Introduce Legislation To Counter Chinese Drones)
"DJI drones pose the national security threat of TikTok, but with wings. The possibility that DJI drones could be equipped to send live imagery of military installations, critical infrastructure, and the personal lives of American citizens to China poses too great a threat. Allowing this practice to continue in the U.S. is playing with fire. This Chinese-controlled company cannot be allowed to continue to operate in the U.S," Stefanik told the Daily Caller at the time.
"DJI drones pose a serious national security threat and belong nowhere near the federal government. The Department of Defense has recognized this and acted accordingly, and now it's time for Congress and the rest of the federal government to follow suit. Legislation like my American Security Drone Act helps mitigate the DJI threat by preventing the federal government from procuring these drones," Gallagher said.
The latest rule "does not affect drones or drone components that are currently sold in the United States," the FCC said. Numerous industries, including construction, agriculture and mining, in addition to police and fire departments across the country, use DJI-made drones, Politico noted.
In February 2022, The Washington Post reported that DJI had received funding from the Chinese government. However, the company allegedly attempted to "obscure" its funding and ties to the Chinese military, according to the outlet.
DJI drones were already banned by the U.S. Army over national security concerns, reportedly beginning in 2017. Additionally, in 2021, the Treasury Department placed investment restrictions on DJI, banning U.S. citizens from buying or selling DJI shares.
Beijing "firmly opposed the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security, which disrupts and restricts normal economic and trade exchanges, and undermines the security and stability of the global industrial and supply chains," a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy said in response to the FCC's new ban, according to Politico.
A DJI spokesperson said the company is "disappointed" by the move.
"While DJI was not singled out, no information has been released regarding what information was used by the Executive Branch in reaching its determination," the spokesperson said.