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’s 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.
DJI, based in China, has been deemed a security risk by the US government. The government is also considering a separate ban on TP-Link routers.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
The vote isn’t the end of the road, however. Future bans would need to be targeted at at 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 audit doesn’t happen, DJI drone products could be banned for sale by default under a national security law.
A representative from DJI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The company told the website TechRadar that the FCC’s vote does not specifically apply to DJI, but that the national security deadline would add DJI and other Chinese device makers to a ban list automatically, “without any evidence of wrongdoing or the right to appeal.” The company said it’s pushing for an extension of the December deadline.
Will people need to give up their drones?
Due to the fact the ban would apply to new sales, not to existing drones that have already been sold, a DJI drone you already own would not be declared illegal 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 highly 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.
But even for DJI products that are not yet banned, it may be hard to find one for sale. 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.
