What Actually Happened
On December 23, 2025, the FCC updated its Covered List to include foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems and critical components. This came after Congress included a provision in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act requiring a federal agency to complete a security review of DJI by a one-year deadline. No agency completed the review, triggering an automatic consequence: DJI's addition to the Covered List.
The mechanism matters. Congress didn't pass a law that says "ban DJI." Instead, they built a deadline-based trigger that shifted the decision to the executive branch. When no one acted, the restriction activated by default. The FCC then went further than targeting DJI alone â they added all new foreign-made drones to the list, though non-Chinese manufacturers can apply for exemptions.
The FCC Covered List blocks new equipment authorizations, not flight operations. Every DJI drone that was already authorized before December 2025 remains fully legal to buy from existing inventory, own, and fly.
What the Ban Does and Doesn't Do
Here's what's actually restricted: new DJI drone models cannot receive FCC equipment authorization, which means they can't be legally imported, marketed, or sold in the US. DJI has stated this could block 25 planned product launches and cost over $1.5 billion in 2026 alone.
Here's what's not restricted: flying your existing DJI drone. The FAA has not grounded any DJI aircraft. There's no remote kill switch, no geofence lockout, no requirement to stop using your gear. Your Mavic, Mini, Air, or Avata keeps working exactly as it did before.
Firmware and Software Updates
The FCC initially allowed firmware and security updates through January 2027. A follow-up notice (DA-26-454) extended that deadline to January 1, 2029. So DJI can continue pushing updates to authorized models for at least the next few years.
What Are the Alternatives?
The US consumer drone market has narrowed significantly. Autel Robotics, also a Chinese company, was added to the same Covered List â and had already discontinued its consumer lines (EVO Nano+, Lite+) in mid-2025. Skydio exited the consumer market entirely in 2023, focusing exclusively on enterprise and government contracts at price points starting around $10,000.
For consumer buyers in 2026, the realistic landscape is: DJI from existing inventory, or a small number of budget alternatives like the Potensic Atom 2 (around $330, sub-250g, 4K with 3-axis gimbal). For professional work, Skydio's X10 is NDAA-compliant and American-made, but it's firmly enterprise-grade.
If you're considering buying a DJI drone while inventory lasts, budget for extra batteries and accessories now. Once current stock depletes, getting replacement parts may become harder.
DJI's Legal Fight
DJI filed suit in February 2026 in the Ninth Circuit, arguing the FCC never identified a specific threat from DJI products and denied the company a fair hearing. In April, DJI submitted filings detailing the financial damage â roughly $700 million from existing products whose authorizations were suspended, plus an additional $860 million in projected losses from blocked 2026 launches.
The government has argued the appeal should be dismissed while a petition for reconsideration is pending. DJI's response: the ban is already active, already causing losses, and waiting helps no one. The legal battle continues.
Should You Still Buy a DJI Drone?
For most pilots: yes, if you need one now. Your drone will keep working, firmware updates continue through 2029, and DJI's ecosystem remains the most mature and capable on the market. No other manufacturer matches the combination of camera quality, reliability, app ecosystem, and price across all segments â from the $150 Neo to the $2,100 Mavic 4 Pro.
The risk is long-term: eventually existing inventory runs out, and if the legal challenge fails, new DJI products won't reach US shelves. But that's a future problem. Today, a DJI drone you buy works exactly as advertised.