INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Or your local police department unable to deploy drones to find a missing child
Congress weighs the future of DJI drones in the US.Under the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the US government
is required to conduct a risk assessment of drones manufactured in China, including those from DJI, by December 23, 2025
As DJI explains:We made clear then, as we do now, that we welcome the opportunity to participate in a rigorous, transparent, and fair audit
We believe our products will stand up to scrutiny because our security protections and data privacy controls are real, robust, and
industry-leading.Then came a bombshell: Last week, a group of lawmakers called on the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
across multiple industries that rely on their drones
clarification, and responsible dialogue
We urge policymakers to uphold the intent of the law by ensuring that this review is transparent, grounded in evidence, and not rushed
everyday users of essential technology, disrupting operations, increasing costs, and limiting access to tools that support safety,
From $200 million grounded in Florida to 90% of public safety drones in Missouri under threat, the following map shows how rushed drone bans
safetyFrom fighting fires to locating missing persons, DJI drones are mission-critical tools for first responders nationwide
In many states, DJI drones account for 80% to 95% of all operational public safety drone units
Losing DJI would mean wiping out programs built over years, sometimes decades, with limited hope for rebuilding.In Missouri, nearly 90% of
all public safety drones would be grounded under proposed legislation
survey found that 95% of agencies said the DJI ban negatively impacted their drone programs
Without these tools, time-critical missions, like locating a lost child in a dense forest, would become slower, riskier, and in some cases,
drones is estimated at $200 million
Millions of taxpayer dollars were spent acquiring high-performance DJI drones, only to see them shelved due to political pressure.And this
Darrell Atteberry, Police Chief for Bel Aire, Kansas.Forcing agencies to replace DJI drones with pricier, less capable alternatives is like
want to support American manufacturing
provides.Take Pearland Police in Texas
They report that US-made alternatives cost three to four times more than DJI
In North Carolina, agencies say costs spiked from $2,600 per drone to over $15,000 after switching.To make matters worse, delivery timelines
Florida, one of the first states to ban DJI drones for state and local government agencies, is already witnessing the fallout of the
US-made alternatives] list
agriculture, surveying, infrastructure inspection, and so much more.According to recent surveys, 2 in 3 businesses say they would shut down
farmer in New Jersey.Without DJI, farmers lose real-time crop monitoring
Utility and construction companies lose inspection capabilities
operators are voicing their concerns loud and clear
allegations are already hurting essential services
Because without a credible process, we risk grounding not just drones, but innovation, safety, and American livelihoods
many of whom rely on DJI products
These products generate more than $116 billion in economic activity across the country and support over 450,000 American jobs
It is essential to recognize the critical role that DJI plays in fostering innovation, saving lives, and supporting the livelihoods of
countless individuals across America
We believe that a thoughtful and balanced approach is necessary to ensure the continued growth of the US drone industry.More: Three new DJI
