20 June 2024

The Countering CCP Drones Act has passed through the House of Representatives.

Bundled with the House version of the Fiscal Year 25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA FY25), the Countering CCP Drones Act passed by a narrow margin of 217 votes to 199. 

However, it's far from law yet.

To get there, the Countering CCP Drones Act—introduced last year by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-WI)—the bill must win committee votes in both the House and the Senate, pass in both houses of congress, and be signed into law by the President. Taking the first step was easy, as the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) passed the bill without incident or struggle in May 2024.

DJI has been pummeled with accusations since the Countering CCP Drones Act emerged, and some feel the heat is due to the pressure the Chinese company's superior technology and more affordable drones have put on American drone manufacturers, rather than fears regarding national security. In response, DJI published a Get the Facts blog.

The Droning Company has also covered the DJI story extensively: 

https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/the-u-s-drone-industry-is-under-attack-again-

https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/wayne-baker-discusses-dji-s-ban-debacle

https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/opinion-the-spying-problem

https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-chinese-drone-bans

https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/innovation-not-legislation-

https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/chinese-drone-ban-suppose-the-fearmongers-are-right-

https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/what-dji-has-done-to-elevate-the-droning-community

https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/background-and-lobbying-efforts-against-dji

https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/opinion-the-argument-against-banning-chinese-drones

https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/how-the-national-defense-authorization-act-effects-the-drone-industry

For their part, Gallagher and Stefanik—who has been criticized for her alleged ties to American drone maker Skydio—maintain the Chinese government could force DJI to undertake “espionage activities” through its drones, and should therefore be placed on the FCC’s list of banned communications equipment and services in the United States.

“DJI presents an unacceptable national security risk, and it is past time that drones made by Communist China are removed from America,” stated Stefanik. “DJI drones pose the national security threat of TikTok, but with wings. The possibility that DJI drones could be equipped to send live imagery of military installations, critical infrastructure, and the personal lives of American citizens to China poses too great a threat. Allowing this practice to continue in the U.S. is playing with fire. This Chinese-controlled company cannot be allowed to continue to operate in the U.S.”

DJI—based in Shenzhen, China—is the biggest drone manufacturer on the planet, accounting for more than 70 percent of the world drone market. Obviously, U.S. owners and operators of DJI drones—which include police departments and hobbyists alike—are nervous about the possibility of a ban. While the bill as currently written would not ground DJI drones already flying in the United States, its passage would terminate future DJI drones, software, and accessories.

The Droning Company urges the drone community—as well as all interested parties—to read up on this subject. (For a start, click our articles above.) We hope you will contact your senators and oppose any legal action that limits the responsible use of drones.