UNITED STATES – An act to ban the sale of DJI drones in the United States was left off the Senate National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) after it passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in the middle of last month. The absence of the Countering CCP Drones Act (CCCPDA) on the Senate NDAA, introduced in the House by New York Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, does not yet mean the act is dead, but it is a positive step in the eyes of those who support the Chinese drone company.
DJI posted a response to the ban’s absence to their social media, thanking those who’ve engaged with Senators and Representatives urging them to oppose legislation that would restrict the use of DJI drones.
“Thank you for making your voices heard in the past weeks by engaging with your Senators and Representatives to urge them to oppose any legislation that would restrict the safe and responsible use of your drones. As we continue to do our part to defend your rights to use our products in the U.S. market, we want to keep you updated on the latest developments.” – DJI
The Senate FY25 NDAA will soon head to the Senate floor, where the Countering CCP Drones Act could still be added as an amendment. Additionally, because the CCCPDA was on the House version of the FY25 NDAA, it could be added to the final bill sent to the President during negotiations set to reconcile differences between the two versions.
“Congress is in recess in August, which means your Senators & Representatives will be back home in your area. This is an opportune time for the U.S. drone community to continue sharing your stories.” – DJI
The CCCPDA was initially introduced in the House in response to the Chinese state-owned businesses’ 6% hold in DJI’s stock. Fears of privacy concerns, in addition to the fact that the company supports the Chinese economy, pushed the act into the House NDAA.
