(Credit: Zain bin Awais/Jim Fisher/PCMag Composite; Akaradech Pramoonsin/via Getty Images)
We knew the federal government was all but certain to add cameras and drones made by DJI to the FCC's Covered List; the writing has been on the wall for months. The 2024 iteration of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a law that's updated annually in order to provide funding to the US military, included language that states that DJI and Autel drones, video surveillance, and communications equipment would be added to the FCC Covered List if it did not pass a security audit before Dec. 23, 2025. But as the deadline approached, it became clear that the government had little interest in actually performing the required audit.
I've been following the story closely, but even I was surprised when the FCC added all foreign-made drones to the Covered List on the eve of the NDAA deadline, not just those made by DJI and Autel. That means that other popular drone brands, including Antigravity, Hover, and Potensic, won't be able to introduce new products into the US market. The ban also extends to components, which is set to make life difficult for hobbyists who build their own FPV drones and folks who like to fly remote control airplanes. All additions are on a going-forward basis, so models that are already available in the US aren't affected.
Content creators and drone enthusiasts who aren't versed in legalese are sure to have some questions about what the foreign drone ban entails. Read on for some answers to the questions you're sure to have.
Which drones are banned by the new FCC rules?
All foreign-made drones that have not yet received FCC certification are now on its Covered List. Drones that have already gone through the FCC vetting process are exempted, but future releases are closed out of the US market. For all practical purposes this applies to every consumer drone brand: Antigravity, DJI, Holy Stone, Hover, Potensic, and Ruko are all impacted.
Wait, I thought the FAA regulated drones?
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is responsible for setting the rules about how and where you can fly drones, but the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is the agency responsible for approving electronic devices. The FCC has to approve nearly every consumer electronics device before it's allowed to be sold in the US.
What is the FCC Covered List?
The FCC added all foreign-made unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and critical components to its Covered List. Once a product or manufacturer is added to this list it won't be able to get FCC approval for newly introduced products, which means that they can't be sold in the US.
I still see drones for sale at US retailers. I thought they were banned?
The FCC Covered List drone ban applies to future models that have not yet been approved for sale in the US. Drones that have previously been certified for sale are not included in the ban. The FCC has the power to revoke approval after the fact, but it must be done on a case-by-case basis and at this time it has not yet revoked any drones that were previously vetted.
I want to buy a drone, which one should I get now?
You can check out our list of the best drones for specific recommendations on drones I've tested, but the general rule of thumb is that you should get a DJI drone that meets your budgets and needs. Its 2025 releases were met with delays and sporadic availability in the US, and I didn't get a chance to review some of them, but I'm confident in recommending the FCC-approved Neo 2, Mini 5 Pro, Air 3S, or Mavic 4 Pro regardless—assuming you can find them in stock. DJI products have faced sporadic retail availability in the last year, even prior to to the FCC's recent action, an issue stemming from delays at customs. We expect this to be status quo going forward, so you may have to be patient to find the one you want in stock.
I already have a drone, will it continue to work?
Yes. You can still fly any and all drones that you own, of course you'll continue to need to follow FAA rules when doing so.
Are there any drones made in the US?
Yes, there a handful of drone makers manufacturing products stateside, but they are typically made for industry, agriculture, or the military. The Parrot Anafi USA, Hylio Ares, and Teal Black Widow are a few examples indicative of the types of drones made stateside. These are serious drones made for first responders, law enforcement, crop monitoring, industrial inspections, and the military—they are simply not consumer-grade and cost far more than standard camera drones.
But almost every drone that's considered affordable is made in China. There's no US-made replacement for the camera drones that content creators, real estate photographers, and wedding videographers typically use.
Are any drones exempted from the Covered List?
Yes, but not consumer models. The FCC made some additional changes to the Covered List on Jan. 7, making a carve-out for drones on the Department of Defense's Blue UAS Cleared List. These drones have been cleared for use by the military, and some are manufactured in other countries—specifically Denmark, France, Norway, Switzerland, and Taiwan. The change also removed drones that may have some foreign parts, but have a high enough percentage of domestic components to qualify as US-made under the Buy American Standard. These amendments don't have any real-world implications for consumer drones, to date none qualify for either exemption.
If my drone breaks, will I be able to get replacement parts?
Yes. I asked the FCC if the component ban applied retroactively and a representative referred me to the agency's fact sheet, which states that the entirety of additions to the Covered List are on a "going forward basis." A DJI spokesperson also confirms that parts for drones that have already been approved are unaffected. That means that you should be able to pick up a fresh battery or replace a broken gimbal or worn-out motor for the drone you already own.
Are DJI's cameras and gimbals included in the ban?
Yes. The Covered List now includes "communications and video surveillance equipment and services listed in Section 1709(a)(1)" of the NDAA, and the language in that law applies to DJI's entire product line, not just its drones. A DJI spokesperson confirms that all of its products, including Ronin and Osmo, are now on the Covered List. Again, this only applies to products that have not yet received FCC approval. Older releases like the Osmo Action 5 Pro, Osmo Pocket 3, and RS 3 Mini aren't affected.
Are Hasselblad cameras banned too?
This is unclear. DJI entered into a strategic partnership with legendary Swedish camera brand in 2015 and strengthened it with a cash injection in early 2017. The two brands are quite close these days, going as far as to share booth space at trade shows, though they are technically different companies. The language in the NDAA extends to DJI's "subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, joint ventures, and any entity to which they have a technology sharing or licensing agreement," and it's certainly possible that Hasselblad falls under that big umbrella. However, I've not been able to get the FCC confirm this, so my guess is that Hasselblad won't face difficulty in the future. Call that informed speculation; to know for sure we'll have to wait and see what happens the next time Hasselblad submits a camera for FCC review. That could be a couple years away as its X2D II 100C and 907X & CFV 100C are both fairly new.
Does the drone ban also cover model aircraft?
Yes. Remote-controlled airplanes predate drones by decades and are a staple at hobby shops nationwide. In recent years they are segmented into the same regulatory bucket as drones. The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), the largest organization for model aircraft enthusiasts in the US, is tracking the situation via its blog, and states in a recent post that it is reaching out to regulatory bodies for relief.
Stay Tuned
While I don't think it's likely that the FCC will walk back the additions to the Covered List, it's not an impossibility. It's more likely that drone manufacturers will attempt to challenge the decision in the courts. I'll keep monitoring the situation and update this piece if anything changes.