DJI, the world’s leading drone manufacturer, has issued a public message to American drone users: the future of DJI drones in the US is in jeopardy — and it’s not because of any new law, but due to a national security review that hasn’t even started.
In a blog post published by DJI, the company has praised the Trump administration’s June 6 executive order aimed at boosting domestic drone innovation. The directive expands Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, streamlines approvals, and supports wider use of Remote ID technology — all steps DJI applauds. But the company says there’s a much bigger issue that the order does not address: a long-overdue audit that could determine whether DJI drones remain available in the US after December 2025.
What’s at stake?
At the heart of DJI’s concern is a provision in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed by Congress in December 2024. The law requires a national security agency to conduct a formal assessment of Chinese-manufactured drones. That assessment was meant to be an evidence-based process — a way to determine fairly whether existing drone technology poses a real risk or not.
But, as DJI points out, more than six months later, that review still hasn’t started.
Without action by the relevant agency, the NDAA provision could trigger an automatic ban on DJI drones at the end of 2025 — regardless of whether there’s any evidence against them. In their blog, DJI stresses that this outcome would happen not because of wrongdoing, but because no agency stepped up to do its job.
DJI: We’re ready — just hit ‘Go’ on the audit
DJI says it welcomes the chance to participate in a transparent, rigorous security review and has long subjected its products to independent audits, certifications, and government reviews.
“We believe our products can stand up to scrutiny,” the company says in the blog. “Our security protections and data privacy controls are real and robust.”
Back in March 2025, DJI formally requested the audit — yet, they claim, there’s still been no movement.
If the process remains stalled, sales of new DJI drones could be banned the US, affecting thousands of users who depend on them every day for everything from search-and-rescue to farming and filmmaking.
Impact on American drone users
DJI drones are by far the most widely used commercial drones in the United States. Fire departments, police departments, infrastructure inspectors, and farmers rely on them. A sudden ban could upend operations, stall innovation, and force users to spend more on less-proven alternatives.
“Thousands of businesses, public safety officials, farmers, entrepreneurs, and others would be cut off from essential tools,” DJI warns. “The ripple effects would extend across the US economy.”
The company is calling for due process — not favoritism, but fairness. The blog insists that all drone manufacturers, regardless of where they’re based, should face the same transparent, evidence-based standards.
DJI to drone community: Speak up now
In its message, DJI urges American drone users to act. The company is encouraging everyone — from hobbyists to public safety operators — to share their stories with elected representatives and advocate for a fair process.
“If you are a DJI operator, what happens next could directly affect you,” the company states. “We’re deeply grateful to the drone community for speaking up so far, and we encourage you to keep going.”
DJI has also pointed users to www.droneadvocacyalliance.com, where they can learn how to contact their representatives and make their voices heard.
DJI’s message is clear: if no agency takes the lead and completes the required review, a silent, automatic ban could take effect — not because of any proven threat, but because of bureaucratic inaction.
For American drone operators, that could mean losing access to trusted, affordable tools with no fair process to explain why.
“Innovation should be built on facts, not fear,” DJI says. “The future of drones in America deserves transparency — and action.”
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