President Donald Trump has signed two significant executive orders — “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty” and “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” — marking a major shift in US drone policy. These directives aim to enhance national security and invigorate the domestic drone industry, particularly in anticipation of major events like the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.
Key highlights from the Executive Orders
- Establishment of a federal task force: A new Federal Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty will be formed to assess and address threats posed by drones. This task force will develop strategies to mitigate risks associated with unauthorized drone activities, including those related to terrorism, espionage, and drug smuggling.
- Enhanced airspace regulations: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is directed to expedite rulemaking processes to restrict drone flights over sensitive sites, such as critical infrastructure and mass gathering events. This includes the development of a system for real-time drone detection and identification to bolster airspace security.
- Promotion of domestic drone manufacturing: Federal agencies are instructed to prioritize the procurement of US-manufactured drones, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign-made drones, particularly those from Chinese companies like DJI. This move is intended to strengthen the domestic drone industry and secure supply chains.
- Advancement of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations: The FAA is tasked with issuing a proposed rule within 30 days to enable routine BVLOS operations for commercial and public safety purposes. A final rule is expected within 240 days, facilitating expanded drone use in various sectors.
- Integration of AI in regulatory processes: To streamline the approval and certification processes, the FAA will deploy artificial intelligence tools to assist in the review of drone waiver applications. This initiative aims to reduce regulatory barriers and accelerate the integration of drones into the national airspace.
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DJI’s response to increased scrutiny
In response to the new executive orders, a DJI spokesperson stated:
DJI has long advocated for the advancement and growth of the US drone ecosystem. We applaud the administration’s action to boost industry innovation, particularly by expanding routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for drones for commercial and public safety purposes and streamlining approval and certification processes, as well as broadening the adoption of Remote ID detection technologies and empowering authorities to protect the public from inappropriate drone use.
DJI also welcomes and embraces opportunities to demonstrate our privacy controls and security features. We stand ready to cooperate with any rulemaking processes or investigations. Our position in the industry reflects early innovation and sustained investment in R&D, safety, and security. Our drones feature robust security protocols, are subject to independent audits, and offer industry-leading data privacy controls. As such, DJI believes our products can stand up to any scrutiny.
DJI has always supported technically grounded minimum security requirements across all UAS manufacturers, regardless of their country of origin. For example, DJI operators have protections that we believe should be industry standards. DJI users can choose not to share data, operate fully offline, deploy on their own private networks, and/or use trusted US or European software alternatives to DJI’s own, giving them added control over their data and operations.
We look forward to engaging with the appropriate government authorities to ensure that any decisions are made based on the quality and safety of our products.
Implications for the US drone industry
The executive orders signify a concerted effort by the Trump administration to bolster the US drone industry while addressing security concerns. By promoting domestic manufacturing and streamlining regulatory processes, the US aims to position itself as a leader in drone technology and innovation. However, the increased scrutiny of foreign manufacturers like DJI indicates a challenging landscape for international players in the US market.
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