A sweeping move by the White House to restrict Chinese drone companies could ironically end up helping one of the biggest players at risk: DJI.
While recent headlines have framed the forthcoming Trump executive orders as a death knell for Chinese drone makers, the reality is more complicated and possibly more hopeful for DJI.According to a report by The Washington Post, the Trump administration is finalizing multiple executive orders aimed at reshaping the commercial drone landscape in the US.
The proposed measures are expected to limit Chinese companies, especially DJI and Autel, from selling new drone models in the country unless they pass a national security review.
That review, mandated by Congress in late 2024, had yet to begin.
Without it, both companies faced an automatic ban under current law.The upcoming orders could accelerate that process, allowing DJI to finally make its case.New:DJI responds to US drone crackdown: Weve got nothing to hideAdvertisement - scroll for more contentThe policies, still in draft form, are designed not only to protect national security but also to rejuvenate the struggling US drone industry.
American drone makers have long complained about their inability to compete with the cheaper, high-tech drones made in China, which dominate the market.The order is not just a ban its a blueprint for industrial resilience, Craig Singleton, a China specialist at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, tells the Post.
Done right, this E.O.
can catalyze a broader US effort to scale domestic production, harden supply chains and align allied drone standards.While that may be the long-term vision, the near-term impact could decide DJIs fate in the US.
DJIs case for transparency amid drone ban talksDJI, the worlds largest drone maker, welcomes scrutiny by the US government.
As DroneDJ previously reported, the company has long argued that its drones do not pose a national security threat and has proactively invited security reviews and audits.Since 2017, the company has voluntarily submitted its systems for independent audits, rolled out features like Local Data Mode to keep user data offline, and advocated for clear, technology-based standards that apply to all drone makers equally regardless of country of origin.As Adam Welsh, DJIs head of global policy, puts it: DJI is confident that its products can withstand [the US governments] strictest scrutiny.
We are confident not only because we have nothing to hide, but because independent firms and other US government agencies have repeatedly validated and confirmed that DJIs products are secure.Welsh adds:The people who have built livelihoods using DJI products deserve a fair and timely evaluation to lift the cloud on our company and reassure DJIs customers and the American public that DJIs drones are safe and secure.More:DJI to US: Ban our drones with evidence, not fearmongeringSo, you can see why DJI sees these new Trump-era executive orders not as a threat, but as a window to clear its name.
Without an accelerated review, the company would be blacklisted by default.
Its a fate it hopes to avoid by welcoming the process.A mixed bag of new rulesBesides fast-tracking the security review, the draft orders aim to expand US commercial drone capabilities.
They could update FAA regulations to make it easier for drones to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) a key step in unlocking more advanced applications, including widespread residential drone delivery.
The rules may also empower owners of private sites like amusement parks and oil facilities to request no-fly zones over their properties.Importantly, the orders include language directing more government investment toward US drone companies.
That support could help American firms gain a foothold in a market that has long been dominated by DJI.Lisa Ellman, CEO of the Commercial Drone Alliance, tells the Post the policies could be transformative.
Weve been asking for US leadership for a really long time, she said.
Our hope is that well see a strong statement from the White House supporting industry, both on the innovation side and the security side.Still, several states including Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee have already banned Chinese drones from government use, and the Department of Defense halted military use of DJI drones in 2018.
That trend may not be reversible.
But what the White House is proposing may offer a pathway forward for DJI and others if they can prove they meet US security standards.For DJI, this is more than a test.
Its a rare chance to reset the narrative.More:5 DJI gifts dad will love this Fathers DayFTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.