The United States will prohibit the import of all DJI drones beginning December 23, escalating long-running national security concerns about the world’s largest commercial dronemaker. Lawmakers argue that DJI’s data practices could expose sensitive information to the Chinese government, though the company denies sharing any user data and says it will delete all U.S. flight logs.
The ban follows growing bipartisan pressure to reduce reliance on Chinese drone technology across federal agencies, critical infrastructure, and law-enforcement operations. DJI, which dominates the global commercial drone market, stands to lose access to one of its most significant markets as U.S. regulators prepare additional restrictions under the National Defense Authorization Act.
Industry analysts expect the move to accelerate investment in domestic and allied drone manufacturers, while commercial operators in construction, agriculture, and public safety assess higher costs and fewer short-term alternatives. The decision marks a sharp shift toward tighter tech-sector controls between Washington and Beijing.
