FCC Draws a Line by Restricting New Foreign-Made Drones in the US

On December 22, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) threw a curveball by adding foreign-made drones and critical components on the Covered List. What appears to be a minor change prevents foreign-made devices from receiving the necessary approval to launch in the United States.

DJI will be the first to experience the impact, as the Chinese company controls a staggering 90% of the market. These new limits will also apply to other international drone manufacturers, such as Autel. Going forward, any drone or essential part manufactured outside of the United States will require a specific exemption from national security agencies before receiving FCC equipment certification.

An interagency panel led by the White House conducted a national security review of these systems, which prompted this decision. They judged that the risks were unacceptable, primarily because they believed that these devices could be easily abused by bad actors for monitoring, data theft, or attacks. They were also concerned that they could be utilized to destroy important infrastructure or wreak havoc at major events.

Now that Congress had passed the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which required the government to examine foreign drone hazards by December 23, 2025, the FCC was forced to add the drones to the Covered List in the absence of their clear approval. And that was exactly what they did. Brendan Carr, the FCC Chair, is pleased with the outcome, calling it as a step toward regaining control of the skies and boosting American drone manufacture.

The good news is that current drones will be unaffected, so anyone how owns a foreign-made model can continue to fly it normally. Retailers can still sell the units that were previously cleared. This only applies to new designs that are still in the process of being certified; repairs and parts for older drones may become more difficult, but for the time being, the goal is to keep new foreign-made models out of the US market.

This action fits with Washington’s long-standing concerns about Chinese technology in critical sectors. Other businesses, such as Huawei and ZTE, have previously under investigation. Drones are only the latest chapter in that story. Bottom line: the FCC is attempting to establish a secure domestic supply chain for a technology that will influence many aspects of life, including public safety, agriculture, and emergency response.

For drone fans and professionals, this implies that you won’t be able to get your hands on those fancy new foreign-made models, at least not right now. The FCC is simply wagering that domestic ingenuity will fill the void created by the new restriction. We’re talking about immediate effects, and how this will play out in the following years. The prohibition is already in force, ushering in a new era for the drone business.
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