The Trump administration is preparing a series of executive orders that could significantly impact Chinese drone manufacturers such as DJI and Autel Robotics, potentially restricting their ability to operate in the U.S. market, according to a report by The Washington Post.
While the orders are not expected to constitute an outright ban, they will direct U.S. intelligence agencies to fast-track national security reviews of Chinese drone makers. The measures could be enacted as early as this week.
In addition to the security evaluations, the proposed executive orders would require increased federal investment in the domestic drone sector. They would also push for revisions to existing federal aviation regulations concerning where commercial drones can legally operate.
American drone manufacturers, such as California-based Skydio, stand to benefit from the potential restrictions. Though DJI does not publicly disclose its sales figures, industry estimates suggest it significantly outsells domestic competitors like Skydio.
In response, DJI said it had no current knowledge of any upcoming executive orders but expressed willingness to demonstrate its commitment to data privacy and product security.
“DJI welcomes and embraces any opportunities to demonstrate our privacy controls and security features,” the company stated.
DJI pointed to a provision in the fiscal year 2025 defense bill—signed into law by President Joe Biden in December 2024—which mandates a national review of whether DJI and Autel’s communications and video surveillance equipment pose an “unacceptable risk” to U.S. national security. Agencies must complete the review by December 2025, or DJI’s products will be automatically placed on the Federal Communications Commission’s Covered List, effectively barring their sale in the U.S.
“This would result in DJI not being able to launch new products in the US market, not through any fault of its own, but simply because no agency undertook the study of our products,” DJI said. “We’ve always advocated for technology-based policies—not those based on a company’s country of origin.”
The company maintains that it prioritizes user data privacy. By default, DJI drones do not sync flight logs, photos, or videos to its servers. As of June 2024, DJI removed the option for U.S.-based users to sync their flight records online and continues to offer a Local Data Mode, which allows offline drone operation.
While many drone enthusiasts oppose any restrictions on products like the DJI Mini 4 Pro, some industry voices believe regulation could be beneficial. Lisa Ellman, co-founder and CEO of the Commercial Drone Alliance, told The Washington Post that the proposed measures could energize domestic innovation. “Our organization has been advocating U.S. leadership on this issue for a very long time,” she said.
Concerns about Chinese drones have been mounting for years. In 2022, the U.S. Treasury Department added DJI and several other firms to its Chinese Military-Industrial Complex list, restricting American companies from exporting technology to them. DJI has been engaged in a legal battle with the U.S. government over that designation ever since.
Chinese drones have already faced bans in specific sectors. The U.S. military has prohibited their use since 2018, and law enforcement agencies in states like Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee have followed suit. A nationwide ban narrowly missed inclusion in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.
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