The news of the FCC’s Covered List update to ban all foreign drones and components has been out for a few weeks now, and the commercial drone industry has not been shy in sharing their opinions. A full ban on all new technology being brought into the United States will unquestionably take a major toll on the drone industry here. Regardless of what industry they are serving with their drones, the majority reaction to this ruling is one of confusion and great disappointment. 

As far as public statements on the ruling goes, DJI’s reaction to the rule highlights that despite this roadblock, they will continue to be committed to the U.S. market.

 “DJI is disappointed by the Federal Communications Commission’s action today to add foreign‑made drones to the Covered List. While DJI was not singled out, no information has been released regarding what information was used by the Executive Branch in reaching its determination.

As the industry leader, DJI has advocated for an open, competitive market that benefits all US consumers and commercial users, and will continue to do so. DJI products are among the safest and most secure on the market, supported by years of reviews conducted by U.S. government agencies and independent third parties. Concerns about DJI’s data security have not been grounded in evidence and instead reflect protectionism, contrary to the principles of an open market. 

Today’s development will not affect customers who already own DJI products. These existing products can continue to be purchased and operated as usual. The FCC’s fact sheet also indicates that new products may, in the future, be cleared for launch based on determinations made by the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.

DJI remains committed to the U.S. market. We are deeply grateful to users across the country who spoke up to share how DJI technology supports their work and their communities. We will keep our community informed as more information becomes available."

Shortly after the FCC made their announcement, Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) put out a statement. Their statement mentions the fact that they had been working with the White House to reduce the U.S.’s reliance on foreign drones, yet they were “surprised” by the ruling.

“We were surprised by the expansion of the FCC’s action to add unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components produced in any foreign country, rather than just certain foreign adversary produced drones, to the Covered List.”

It’s important to note that while the CDA’s goal is to support the growth of U.S. based drone manufacturing, they believe this ruling will have the opposite effect.

“The scope of this action will create unnecessary challenges for American innovators without thoughtful implementation. A broad prohibition that effectively cuts off critical components from even our closest allies risks disrupting critical operations, stalling innovation, inviting retaliation by trusted international trade partners, and weakening—not strengthening—U.S. national security.”

From what we’ve seen online, many operators share similar sentiments. Since the announcements, social media platforms have been filled with people sharing their reactions to the news. Many are questioning how the FCC has the authority to put such a ban in place, while others echo CDA’s comment of how detrimental this will be to U.S. technology innovation and manufacturing. Many believe that the U.S. will quickly be left behind as new technology develops overseas, and the industry can’t access it.

Others are worried about how this ban will affect drone education programs. Skip Fredricks, a drone technology professor at Grossmont College and owner of Hollywood Drones told a news outlet that drones in educational programs get worn down quickly and often need maintenance or replacing.

“There are no U.S.-based drone manufacturers producing affordable alternatives,” he said. “When these drones fall apart, there may be no options left for businesses, schools, government agencies, or pilots.”

On the other side of the argument, some organizations believe that this ban will in fact increase manufacturing and other benefits such as an increase in jobs, decreased dependency on foreign nations for technology, and overall strengthen innovations.

AUVSI has released a statement in favor of the ruling, noting all of the above as their reasoning. Despite the fact the FCC has made this a blanket rule for all foreign entities, AUVSI’s statement calls out two specific Chinese manufacturers.

“AUVSI applauds the FCC for placing Chinese drone companies DJI and Autel on the Covered List, fulfilling the will of Congress under the NDAA to protect U.S. national security. Multiple U.S. intelligence and security agencies have determined these PRC-made drones present risks that cannot be adequately mitigated.”

Their statement also alludes to the importance of finding a middle ground to not create such a disruption in the current market.

“At the same time, any policy restricting the import of foreign-manufactured drones or components from allied nations must carefully balance security objectives with the operational, economic, and innovation risks created by overly broad or inflexible controls. A waiver system administered through the FCC and Department of War should be appropriately tailored, transparent, and scalable, ensuring it mitigates genuine security risk without unintentionally undermining domestic manufacturing, allied supply chains, or critical war fighting, public safety, and commercial operations.”

Ultimately, the FCC’s decision to expand the Covered List has exposed a deep divide within the commercial drone ecosystem, with security concerns colliding head-on with innovation, affordability, and global supply chain realities. While some see the ruling as a necessary step toward strengthening domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign technology, others fear it will slow progress, raise costs, and limit access to critical tools across commercial, public safety, and educational sectors.