DJI just posted one of its most urgent public messages yet, and if you’ve struggled to find certain DJI drones on US shelves lately, you’ll understand why. A little-known deadline in Congress is now only weeks away, and it could cut Americans off from all future DJI product launches unless Washington acts.
Even as the company rolls out steep Black Friday discounts on much-loved gear, right from safety-focused drones like the Flip with full-coverage propeller guards to creative tools like the Osmo 360 (35% off), DJI is simultaneously dealing with a regulatory countdown that could reshape the US drone market.
Here’s what’s happening, why it matters, and what DJI says users can do next.
A deadline that could trigger an automatic ban
Under the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congress set December 23, 2025 as the deadline for a formal national security audit of two Chinese drone manufacturers, including DJI.
DJI says it has repeatedly and publicly requested this audit. The company wants it. It welcomes it. But according to DJI, “as far as we can tell, the process has not begun.”
And that creates a huge problem: If no audit is completed by the deadline, DJI will be automatically added to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) “Covered List.”
Landing on that list would effectively ban DJI from releasing new products in the United States. DJI calls this a “risk created by a legislative gap,” because Congress never assigned any federal agency to actually perform the required audit.
What happens to DJI owners if a ban actually triggers?
Here’s what the company clarified:
- Your current DJI gear would keep working: Whether you fly a DJI Mini 3 for casual weekend shoots or zip around with the high-speed Avata 2 and its immersive FPV goggles, nothing already in your hands would suddenly be disabled.
- But future access could disappear — fast: No new releases. No next-gen upgrades. And possibly no purchasing even existing products still on US shelves.
DJI emphasizes that this would affect all product lines — not just drones. That includes creator favorites like the Mic Mini (down 53% right now) and versatile cameras like the Action 5 Pro. In other words: the ripple effects would hit far more than pilots. Filmmakers, vloggers, educators, construction surveyors, and first responders would feel it too.
Why hasn’t the audit happened yet?
The “why” boils down to one issue: No federal agency was assigned to conduct it.
DJI says it has:
- Sent multiple letters
- Engaged government officials throughout the year
- Publicly called for a fair, transparent process
- Stated readiness to take additional data-security measures
- Asked for the deadline to be extended so a real audit is possible
But so far, no part of the federal government has stepped up to perform the audit Congress requires.
The result? DJI could be banned by default, without any review of facts, evidence, or technical findings.
Why is DJI scrutinized so heavily?
DJI addresses this head-on in a new blog: this isn’t about the company doing something “wrong.”
Yet the company has faced years of allegations — many of which courts or agencies have not substantiated. Two examples the company highlights:
1. DoD’s ‘Chinese Military Company’ designation: A federal court recently allowed the DoD designation to stand, citing DJI’s recognition as a National Enterprise Technology Center in China and noting the dual-use nature of its technology. But the court also rejected most of DoD’s allegations, finding no basis for claims that DJI:
- Is owned or controlled by the Chinese Communist Party
- Is affiliated with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
- Is part of a military-civil fusion enterprise zone
DJI has appealed the decision, reaffirming that it has never built or marketed military equipment. The company was also the first drone manufacturer to publicly discourage the combat use of drones — a policy its resellers and partners must follow.
2. Customs-related delays misinterpreted as a drone ban: DJI says recent import challenges stem from a customs misunderstanding, not a prohibition, which explains why drones like the Mavic 4 Pro and the compact Mini 5 Pro are only listed through resellers in the US
The company says it complies fully with US law, and the situation is part of a larger DHS initiative scrutinizing Chinese-made drones.
Who gets hurt without DJI
DJI argues that geopolitics, technology competition, and domestic industrial policy are driving many of today’s narratives. As the global drone leader headquartered in China, it is at the center of those tensions.
But DJI also points out:
- US manufacturers focus heavily on government and defense customers
- They do not produce comparable aircraft for the broad civilian and commercial market
- Removing DJI from the US market will leave hundreds of thousands of users without affordable, reliable tools
From real-estate photographers using pocketable drones like the Mini 4K, to first responders who rely on aircraft like the Mavic 3TA for quick aerial awareness, DJI says these users would face real losses — not because of safety or security concerns, but because of a procedural gap that prevents an audit from happening.
Related: The devastating real-world impact of a DJI drone ban
Here’s DJI:
Kicking DJI out of the US market would benefit domestic drone manufacturers seeking to expand but we’ve never been opposed to their growth. In fact, we support it, particularly as they focus on sensitive US government as well as military applications, areas for which DJI products are not developed nor suited for.
Let’s not forget that a DJI ban wouldn’t just affect drones. Access to DJI’s wider range of products, including action cameras and filmmaking equipment, would be impacted too. This shows how broad and untargeted these actions would be, and how far their effects could ripple across creative and commercial industries.
On a sidenote, it’s worth pointing out though that this uncertain economic environment has forced DJI to mark down its entire US catalogue for Black Friday. The sale might unexpectedly double as a last-chance window if the Covered List trigger goes unaddressed. Among the hot-selling deals US shoppers can currently find:
- The DJI Avata 2, with its low-latency goggles and intuitive motion controller
- The DJI Flip, one of the company’s newest palm-sized creative drones
- The DJI Neo, a mini drone that requires no remote controller
- The DJI Mini 3, a social-first drone with vertical shooting capabilities
- The DJI Mini 4K, one of the most beginner-friendly and reliable mini drones
DJI’s message to US users: Your voice matters
In the end, DJI is once again urging US users — hobbyists, professionals, and commercial operators — to tell lawmakers how an automatic ban would affect their work and communities. The company says:
- Decisions should be based on facts, not politics
- A ban without a review is unfair and unprecedented
- Users can help ensure evidence-based policymaking
DJI encourages everyone to speak up, and to encourage at least three fellow users to do the same, stating, “Together, we can ensure that fair, evidence-based decisions define the future of drones in the US.”
More: DJI’s new Osmo Action 6 goes global
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