The United States House of Representatives has taken a significant step toward restricting the sale of DJI drones within the country. On Friday, lawmakers passed the “Countering CCP Drones Act,” a provision embedded within the broader 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (FY25 NDAA). This annual legislation, which outlines the defense budget for the upcoming year, now includes a measure aimed at curbing the influence of the Chinese drone manufacturer DJI, which currently holds over 70% of the global drone market share.
The decision to target DJI stems from growing concerns among U.S. lawmakers about potential national security risks. As previously reported, 6% of DJI’s stock is owned by Chinese state-run businesses, fueling fears of possible government backdoors and surveillance capabilities. Representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York and sponsor of the legislation, has been vocal about these risks, stating, “DJI presents an unacceptable national security risk, and it is past time that drones made by Communist China are removed from America.”
However, the move to ban future sales of DJI drones in the U.S. comes amid a complex backdrop. Despite the legislative push, DJI drones remain favored by U.S. law enforcement and military agencies for their advanced technology and reliability. Furthermore, DJI’s products have seen usage in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, although the company has publicly denounced any military applications of its drones.
The Countering CCP Drones Act is one of several provisions tucked into this year’s NDAA, a bill that must be passed annually to ensure continued defense funding. While the House of Representatives has advanced the bill, including the anti-DJI measure, the Senate must still pass its version before the two can be reconciled and signed into law by President Biden. The current legislation does not prohibit the use of already purchased DJI drones but aims to halt future sales, which would significantly impact the availability of high-end drones in the U.S. market.
For those opposed to the bill, there remains a window of opportunity to influence its outcome. Concerned citizens are encouraged to contact their U.S. Senators to voice their objections to the Countering CCP Drones Act.
This legislative move is part of a broader pattern of U.S. actions against successful Chinese companies, often justified on national security grounds. Although it is less direct than the tariffs and restrictions seen in the U.S.-China trade war over semiconductors, the DJI ban continues the trend of targeting commercially successful Chinese entities. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has emphasized that these measures are focused on safeguarding sensitive technology rather than stifling trade or containing China’s economic growth.
