The clock ticks toward December 23, 2025, when DJI—the company behind roughly 70 percent of commercial drones in America—faces automatic exclusion from U.S. markets unless federal agencies complete security audits they’ve spent months avoiding.

A DJI drone. Image credit: bublikhaus via Freepik, free license

Key takeaways:

• DJI controls approximately 70% of the commercial drone sector and 90% of agricultural and emergency response drone markets in the United States
• Federal agencies including DHS, FBI, and NSA have not initiated required security audits despite DJI’s formal requests dating back to June
• Around 450,000-460,000 American jobs depend on DJI products, according to company impact studies

The Chinese manufacturer, which powers everything from farm operations to emergency response teams, finds itself caught in bureaucratic limbo as multiple agencies dodge responsibility for evaluations that could determine the company’s fate.

The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025 created this predicament through provisions requiring security audits for Chinese drone makers. DJI and Autel Robotics must pass formal evaluations within one year of the bill’s December 2024 passage, or the FCC automatically adds their equipment to the Covered List—effectively barring new products from accessing regulated bandwidth necessary for drone operations.

Five agencies hold authority to conduct these audits: the Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Security Agency, and Department of Defense. Yet responsibility has bounced between them with none stepping forward.

DHS says it continues assessing risks posed by DJI and Autel communications equipment but provided no timeline. DJI’s Head of Global Policy, Adam Welsh, formally requested the audit in June, writing that the company wanted agencies to “begin this required evaluation of DJI’s products right away.”

“This is about forcing the biggest manufacturer of drones out of the market so that American drone manufacturers don’t have to compete with them,” Welsh said.

The Department of Defense recently labeled DJI a “Chinese military company,” which the drone maker disputes. Customs and Border Protection has also blocked DJI shipments at entry points, citing forced labor allegations the company emphatically denies. DJI doesn’t appear on the DHS-published Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, yet CBP continues selective enforcement that federal law prevents the agency from discussing publicly.

These customs disruptions have created supply shortages across retail channels. DJI’s U.S. online store shows virtually all products out of stock for months. Customers must hunt through third-party Amazon sellers or face empty shelves at major retailers.

The company’s market dominance makes replacement scenarios problematic. A 2020 Drone Industry Insights report found DJI commanded 77 percent of U.S. consumer drone sales. BCC Research later calculated the company’s global share at roughly 70 percent—extraordinary concentration in any technology sector.

Welsh estimated current market positions: “We are 70+ percent of the commercial sector, probably more like 90 percent of the ag sector, about 90 percent of the law enforcement, firefighter sector. We did an impact study, and about 450-460,000 jobs are supported through the use of our products in the United States. Those jobs are all under threat if this ban goes into effect.”

Earlier this year, the New York Times documented how farmers and first responders depend on DJI equipment for daily operations. Lawmakers counter that heavy reliance on foreign vendors in critical industries creates unacceptable security vulnerabilities.

Current DJI owners face uncertainty about existing equipment. Company representatives told Mashable that drones purchased before December 23 remain operable pending future government action. However, the FCC can retroactively apply Covered List designations to previously released products, though Welsh clarified this would affect DJI’s ability to sell and market devices rather than individual ownership rights.

New product launches in the U.S. market have already stalled. DJI has delayed some releases indefinitely domestically while launching them globally.

No audit requirement forces agencies to actually conduct evaluations. If an agency chose to audit DJI—regardless of pass or fail results—it would submit unclassified reports to congressional committees explaining decisions. Without audits, DJI cannot clear its name as the December deadline approaches.

The protectionist angle gains credibility given broader policy directions. Trump’s second term has emphasized “restoring American manufacturing” through tariffs and domestic production commitments. In June, Trump signed executive orders boosting domestic drone manufacturing, stopping short of outright DJI bans but establishing federal task forces for “American airspace sovereignty” and directing the Federal Acquisition Security Council to publish lists of companies posing supply-chain risks. Florida, Arkansas, and Tennessee have banned Chinese-made drones for government and public safety work.

Welsh noted scrutiny extends across administrations, saying that the company faced additional scrutiny dating back to the first Trump administration and even the Biden administration as well.

Finding American replacements proves challenging because DJI essentially is the American consumer drone market. U.S. manufacturers produce commercial drones, but few target everyday consumers. DroneU’s recommendations for U.S.-made, NDAA-approved drones all cost thousands of dollars and serve enterprise, industrial, or government needs—not hobbyists filming hikes or learning basic flight skills.

AeroVironment, likely America’s largest drone manufacturer, operates as a defense contractor building military equipment rather than consumer products for retail chains. No domestic company currently matches DJI’s price points, production scale, or consumer accessibility.

The gap between policy ambitions and market realities leaves questions unanswered about who fills the void if DJI exits. American jobs depending on affordable, capable drones hang in the balance as federal agencies avoid making decisions that would clarify the situation one way or another.