SPOKANE, Wash. – DJI, a leading drone manufacturer, is facing a potential halt in sales across the United States due to delays in a security audit.
The Senate Committee for Armed Services ordered an audit to determine if DJI drones pose a threat to national security. The deadline for this audit is December 23, 2025, but DJI claims the audit has not yet begun.
Andrew Thompson, an aerial photographer in Spokane, is concerned about the delay. “Is this audit ever going to be allowed to happen? You know, are they actually going to do this,” he said. Thompson relies heavily on DJI drones for his business, as DJI controls 80% of the U.S. consumer drone market.
Thompson questioned, “Why is it taking this long?” With no agency assigned to conduct the audit, the process has stalled. He added, “They kick the can down the road. And here we are a week away from it, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.”
If the audit does not occur by the deadline, DJI says its drones will automatically be placed on the FCC’s ‘Covered List’, effectively banning their sale in the U.S. “So there’s just a lack of clarity as far as what’s going to happen and what the next steps are to kind of remedy this;” said Thompson.
Wayne Baker, DJI’s Director of Stakeholder Engagement, said, “We’ve even gone so far as to ask for an extension, for the audit to be done.” DJI has been proactive in reaching out to government agencies to expedite the audit process. Baker emphasized, “We have nothing to hide.”
The implications of a ban on DJI drones are significant. Thompson noted, “That would be killer, that would really be a deathblow to a lot of industries.” DJI drones are used in various sectors, including fire and rescue, agriculture, law enforcement and entertainment.
Baker highlighted the impact on fire and rescue operations, stating, “Utilizing these drones in flooding was the first primary use I had—delivering, you know, flotation devices to victims.”
The potential ban could also affect American consumers’ freedom of choice. Baker said, “This is going to hurt American customers, take away their freedom of choice of product.”
As the deadline approaches, the future of DJI drone sales in the U.S. remains uncertain. Thompson expressed his concern, “My biggest concern there is, you know what? What happens next.”
In the meantime, scrutiny over DJI’s technology continues. Members of the U.S. Senate have sent letters to major construction companies, including Hensel Phelps, Brasfield and Gorrie and Bechtel Corporation, asking for details on drone practices and safeguards around sensitive sites. The concern is whether data collected could be transferred to the Chinese government.
