Do you fly DJI?
Now could be the time to start looking for an equivalent drone option, or else calling your congressperson.
With just under three months to deadline, the popular Chinese drone maker has yet to receive a mandated national security audit from the federal government, required by Dec. 23, 2025 for continued sale in the United States.
The mandated review deadline for DJI was included in last year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), preventing an outright ban at the time. Currently used by everyone from farmers to first responders and everyday aerial photographers, DJI drones stand to be banned for sale without the mandated review. DJI has asked for the required review, but without receiving one as yet.
The popular drone maker meanwhile suffered a setback in January after one of its drones collided with a Canadian airplane helping fight wildfires in LA. The incident resulted in confiscation of drone parts contained in the airplane wing and an investigation into who was behind the incident. The airplane landed safely. DJI removed geofencing from its drone fleet following the incident, thereby placing full liability on operators as it continues to undergo issues with both tariffs and imports.
As for general drone use, this is regulated by the U.S. federal government as well as applicable state law, which in Minnesota include registration and insurance. U.S. drone pilots must also have their drone equipped with a remote ID (RID), either wired in or via transmitter beacon. An RID is similar to a digital license plate and broadcasts a drone pilot’s identification as well as location.
Recreational drone users and hobbyists are required to pass a Recreational UAS Safety Test (Trust Test) and use an RID or be restricted to what is called a FRIA (FAA Recognized Identification Area).
Commercial drone pilots must pass a test for familiarity with drone regulations as laid out in Part 107 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and be licensed through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).