On December 22, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a ban on the purchase of any Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS, or drones) that were manufactured outside of the United States. The decision is effective immediately but does not affect any previously purchased drones.
The FCC’s rule follows the passage of the American Security Drone Act of 2023 (ASDA) and OMB Memorandum M-26-02. ASDA instructed the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to establish a government-wide policy for the procurement of drones in the United States. The OMB Memorandum satisfied ASDA and called for federal agencies to consider cybersecurity risks in their individual drone regulations.
Under the FCC’s decision, no drones can be acquired within the U.S. market if they were manufactured outside of the country. It applies to any aircraft, flight controller, camera or ground control station supplied by a manufacture based internationally, specifically within the People’s Republic of China. The rule is not retroactive, meaning that any drones purchased before December 22, 2025, from foreign manufacturers are exempt. Additionally, foreign manufactured drones can be permitted for acquisition if the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security determines that the specific drones or components do not pose a national security risk.
For more information, please contact Deniz Mustafa or John Chambers.