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What just happened? For drone enthusiasts and professionals alike, the potential nationwide ban on DJI products has been a hot-button issue looming over the industry. But the latest update suggests a reprieve from the controversial legislation - at least for now.
When the House of Representatives rolled out their version of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2025 (NDAA FY25) last month, it resurrected the "Countering CCP Drones Act" – the same provision that previously pushed for a blanket prohibition on the sale of Chinese-made drones.
However, the Senate Armed Services Committee has now released its counterpart to the NDAA FY25, and it omits the controversial drone clause.
A big factor behind the change of heart seems to be the intense backlash from the public safety sector. According to a report by Commercial UAV News, over 6,000 police, fire, and emergency response agencies fired off a joint letter to the Senate committee, opposing the Countering CCP Drones Act shortly after the House passed their version. For many cash-strapped departments, DJI's affordable yet capable offerings are integral tools.
Of course, recreational pilots may have influenced the Senate's decision by voicing concerns over the act's far-reaching implications. Under last year's American Security Drone Act (ASDA) embedded in the 2024 NDAA, drones originating from certain entities (like China) are already prohibited for federal agency use and on federal properties. This meant an extra headache for everyday pilots when picking a spot to fly or picking a drone to buy.
The Countering CCP Drones Act essentially sought to turn that federal policy into a nationwide mandate.
This isn't a final victory for DJI just yet, though. The fact that the Senate Armed Services Committee dropped the 'Countering CCP Drones Act' from their version of the NDAA FY25 is just one step in the process. The full Senate still needs to vote on its version, and then the House and Senate Armed Services Committees will need to reconcile any differences between their respective NDAA versions through negotiations.
The partisan divide seems evident here too. Republicans ushered in the House proposal containing the DJI ban, while Democrat-controlled Senate committees opted to sideline it, at least temporarily. President Biden has also signaled his intent to veto House-approved "culture war issues, "which could be interpreted as a vague reference to the Chinese drone controversy.