The DJI Ban In The United States: What Drone Pilots Need To Know

DJI, the world’s most popular drone manufacturer, has been at the center of political debate in the United States for a long time now. However, this time the outcome will significantly affect the availability of DJI drones on the U.S. market. While headlines often frame this as an immediate ban, the reality is more nuanced. What has unfolded now is largely a legislative and administrative standoff, where a lack of action has the same consequences as an outright decision. I have avoided for a long time to write about this because I was skeptical the DJI ban would ever see the light of day but today, December 23rd 2025, it has finally become reality. In this article, I’ll break down what’s actually happening, why it matters to drone pilots and photographers, and what the likely real-world consequences are.

Update 23/12/2025: DJI is now on the FCC’s covered list, which means new DJI products will likely not see a launch on the U.S. market in the future. The covered list is a compilation of communications technologies that have been deemed a risk to national security in the United States.

Disclaimer: While the impending drone ban is a complex issue, deeply rooted in geopolitical & commercial interests, I have tried to keep this article as neutral as possible, while also trying to simplify it as much as possible.

A Must-Watch: iPhonedo’s Interview With DJI

While coverage of the impending DJI ban on the U.S. market has been fairly limited, I was pleasantly surprised to see this excellent interview by Faruk with one of DJI’s executives in the United States. A lot of the questions people have asked over the last weeks and months are very clearly and transparently answered. A must-watch in my opinion!

Why Is DJI Being Targeted?

Concerns about DJI in the U.S. have been circulating for years, primarily centered around national security and data privacy. Because DJI is a Chinese company, some U.S. lawmakers argue that its products could theoretically be used to collect or transmit sensitive data.

However, what’s important to understand is that no public evidence has been released proving that DJI drones are actively being used for espionage. Despite that, the concern alone has been enough to trigger legislative action. The current situation is tied to provisions in the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which introduced a requirement for a formal national security review of DJI.

The Critical Deadline Has Been Reached: December 23rd 2025

Here’s where things get interesting. Under the NDAA, a U.S. national security agency must complete a formal audit of DJI’s technology and data handling practices. Because that review was not completed by December 23, 2025, DJI has now been automatically placed on the FCC’s “Covered List”. This list is a compilation of communications technologies that have been deemed a risk to national security in the United States.

This outcome effectively:

• Prevents new DJI products from being authorized for sale in the U.S.
• Blocks future imports of newly released DJI drones
• Leaves existing drones legally usable, but limit future availability

In other words, DJI didn’t need to “lose” the review for this to happen. Inaction from the government’s side alone triggered the restrictions.

What DJI’s Position Is On The Matter

If you have watched the interview video above with iPhonedo, you already have a pretty good idea about this. However, DJI has been unusually direct in its response. The company has repeatedly stated that it welcomes the security audit and wants the review to take place.

According to DJI, the lack of progress is not due to resistance on their side, but rather because no agency has stepped forward to conduct the review. The law does not stipulate which agency should conduct the audit, which means different agencies are pointing to each other. DJI have actively reached out to multiple agencies in the last year to get reviewed without getting any positive feedback. From their perspective, being effectively banned by default without an assessment is both unfair and damaging to users.

DJI also points out that its drones are not only widely used by photographers & videographers but also critical resources such as:

• Emergency services
• Search and rescue teams
• Fire departments
• Infrastructure inspectors
• The agricultural industry

Removing access to new models could have big consequences far beyond hobbyist flying.

Is This About Security Or Market Protection?

A growing number of industry analysts believe this situation isn’t purely about national security. DJI dominates the consumer and prosumer drone market. Critics argue that restricting DJI could function as economic protectionism, giving domestic manufacturers a chance to compete without facing DJI’s technological and pricing advantages. For end users, the concern is simple: less competition usually means higher prices and fewer innovations.

One thing I have also observed from within my niche, landscape & wildlife photography, is that there simply isn’t a viable alternative yet to DJI drones. I know because I regularly look at competing companies’ products. DJI is the global leading consumer drone manufacturer for a reason. There is simply no other company on the market today that produces drones that are as reliable and have similar high quality cameras. On top of that, they keep pushing the technology forward even though they don’t need to. 

What This Ban Will Not Do

There’s a lot of misinformation floating around, so let’s clear up a few key points:

• Your existing DJI drone will not stop working
• There is no mechanism to remotely ground DJI drones already in use
• Recreational and commercial flights remain legal under current regulations
• Registration, Remote ID, and FAA rules remain unchanged

The biggest impact is on future availability of DJI drones, potentially limited to newer models, not current use.

What This Means For Drone Pilots And Photographers Based In The United States

For U.S. based photographers and videographers, the implications are mostly long-term:

• New DJI models won’t officially reach the U.S. market
• Access to the latest camera and flight technology will stall
• Repairs, replacements, and accessories may become harder to source over time

For now, flying your DJI drone remains legal and unaffected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a rundown of the most frequently asked questions I have gotten in regardcs to the DJI ban.

Will DJI drones Be Banned Completely In The U.S. In 2026?

Not directly. Because no security review has been completed by December 23rd 2025, DJI has been placed on the FCC Covered List. This means new products won’t be approved or imported. The covered list is a compilation of communications technologies that have been deemed a risk to national security in the United States.

Can I Still Fly My DJI Drone Now That The Ban Is In Effect?

Yes. Existing DJI drones will continue to function and remain legal to fly under current FAA rules.

Will DJI drones Be Remotely Disabled?

No. There is no technical or legal mechanism in place to disable drones already in circulation.

Does This Affect Drone Regulations Outside The U.S.?

No. This situation is specific to the United States and does not impact DJI users in Europe, the UK, Iceland, or elsewhere.

Is This Decision Final?

For now it is final. However, political pressure and legal challenges could still change the situation.

Conclusion

The situation surrounding DJI in the United States is less about an outright ban and more about what happens when politics, regulation, and inaction collide. Because no agency was assigned and completed the required security review by December 23rd 2025, DJI has been locked out of the U.S. market for future products, even without a formal finding against the company.

For now, DJI drone owners can continue flying their already-owned drones as normal. But for photographers and pilots who rely on DJI’s innovation, this is a development worth following closely.

Need Help Buying A New Drone?

If you are looking at buying a new drone, I can point you into the direction of my updated drone buyer’s guide. My drone buyer’s guide has an extensive and comprehensive list of all available drones on the market now that you should consider, even taking into account that not everything is available to you on the U.S. market.