The fight over Chinese drones has moved from obscure defense legislation into the brightest spotlight in tech. As the Federal Communications Commission chair heads to CES 2026, the industry is watching to see whether the partial ban on DJI hardware becomes a full‑blown showdown or a managed transition. The stakes now stretch from backyard hobbyists to public safety agencies and the broader question of how the United States treats foreign technology in critical networks.
Why the DJI fight is landing on the CES main stage
CES is usually where television sizes, gaming rigs, and concept cars dominate the conversation, not export controls and national security. This year, the show is doubling as a stage for policy, with the FCC chair scheduled to appear alongside other U.S. officials as part of a lineup of government leaders that attendees can View the IPS. The Consumer Electronics Show has always been a barometer of where tech is headed, and the presence of senior regulators signals that the future of drones, connectivity, and Chinese hardware is now a front‑burner issue for Washington as well as Silicon Valley.
That political edge is sharpening an event already packed with big product news, from phones and displays to the latest from Samsung, which is expected to use the Las Vegas stage for major announcements that, as one preview put it, underline that CES is normally a place for big tech news. Dropping the FCC chair into that mix ensures that the simmering controversy over DJI will not stay in the policy weeds, but will instead be debated in front of the very companies and consumers who will live with the consequences.
What the current DJI ban actually does
Before speculating about what might change in Las Vegas, it is worth being precise about what has already happened. There is, as one detailed explainer puts it bluntly, a DJI ban in the U.S., and the answer to the question “Is there a DJI ban in the U.S.?” is “Yes.” As of December 23, 2025, new DJI drones can no longer obtain FCC equipment authorization, which means fresh models cannot be legally marketed and sold in the United States. Existing aircraft that already have authorization are not grounded, but the pipeline for new consumer and professional models is effectively cut off.
The move is part of a broader decision by the FCC to block new foreign‑made drones, a policy described in one analysis under the banner “FCC Blocks New Foreign Made Drones, Citing National Security Risks.” In practice, that means the commission has added DJI to its so‑called “covered list,” cutting off access to key radio certifications and aligning with a wider push by the U.S. government to restrict Chinese technologies in sensitive sectors. The result is a partial ban that hits future sales and upgrades rather than immediately confiscating drones already in American skies.
How the NDAA and FCC rules converged on DJI
The regulatory squeeze on DJI did not appear out of nowhere, and it is rooted in defense legislation as much as in telecom law. The fine print of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025, formally referred to as the National Defense Authorization Act for 2025, set the stage by directing federal agencies away from certain Chinese‑made drones and tightening procurement rules. That law, which passed in December 2024, framed DJI as a potential security risk in military and government contexts, creating political momentum that would later spill over into civilian regulation.
On the telecom side, the FCC translated those concerns into concrete licensing decisions, culminating in what one report framed as a moment when the “Foreign Drone Ban Is Here,” with DJI “Hit Hardest” by “New FCC Rules.” The commission’s vote to stop authorizing new and updated models of some foreign‑manufactured drones, including DJI and rival Autel, effectively extended the national security logic of the NDAA into the consumer marketplace. The result is a two‑track policy: defense law that limits what government buyers can use, and communications rules that shape what private buyers can even purchase.
DJI’s response and the security debate
DJI has not accepted the security narrative without a fight. The company has repeatedly denied that it poses a national security risk, pointing to technical features designed to keep user data local, including options such as Local Data Mode and enterprise‑grade controls. From DJI’s perspective, these safeguards show that its drones can be configured to operate without sending sensitive telemetry back to Chinese servers, undercutting the core allegation that the hardware is an automatic conduit for foreign intelligence.
Regulators and some lawmakers remain unconvinced, arguing that software settings are only as strong as the legal environment in which a company operates, and that Chinese national security laws could compel access regardless of technical promises. That tension has fueled a broader debate over whether the FCC is engaging in necessary risk management or regulatory overreach, a criticism that has grown louder as the ban’s practical effects become clearer. One industry‑focused critique framed the move under the headline “The Scope of the Ban,” arguing that the official statement from the FCC, paired with Chairman Carr’s mid‑afternoon post, confirmed a far broader impact than many pilots initially expected.
What changes for pilots, agencies, and buyers on the ground
For drone pilots, the most immediate question is whether their existing aircraft are suddenly illegal. The answer, according to one detailed FAQ, is that current owners can keep flying, but the market is shifting under their feet. That guide walks through the most frequently asked questions about the DJI ban and bluntly asks, “Will DJI drones be banned completely in the U.S.?” The current answer is that new models will not be approved or imported once the FCC rules fully bite, but that does not automatically ground fleets already in service.
Public agencies and commercial operators face a more complex transition. Reporting from Iowa, for example, notes that The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) vote to ban new and updated models of some foreign‑manufactured drones could affect future operations for local agencies, public safety departments, and commercial operators. Fire departments that rely on DJI thermal drones for search‑and‑rescue, or farmers who use DJI multispectral cameras for crop analysis, can keep flying what they have, but they may struggle to replace or expand their fleets. That uncertainty is already prompting some organizations to stock up on approved models while they still can.
The scramble for “approved” DJI models and sub‑$500 buys
Because the ban targets new authorizations rather than retroactively revoking old ones, there is now a de facto list of DJI products that remain legal to sell and operate, at least for a time. One camera‑focused rundown catalogs a List of Approved DJI Drones, Pocket Series Models and Action Cameras as part of a “DJI USA Ban Update” for 2026, explaining which specific models can still be sold in the United States of America. That kind of guidance has become essential for retailers and buyers trying to navigate a shrinking but still active catalog of DJI gear that is grandfathered in under the old rules.
Some analysts even argue that, paradoxically, the looming restrictions make it a “Smart Decision” to buy certain DJI drones now, especially at lower price points. One consumer‑oriented piece titled “Understand the DJI Ban 2026: Why Its a Smart Decision to Buy a DJI Drone Under $500” explicitly urges buyers to move quickly on sub‑$500 models before inventories dry up. The logic is straightforward: if you believe DJI’s hardware will remain technically superior for a while, and if existing drones are allowed to keep flying, then snapping up an affordable aircraft now could be a hedge against a future in which alternatives are more expensive or less capable.
How the NDAA deadline and FCC timeline collide
The legal mechanics behind the ban are complicated, but they matter for anyone trying to plan purchases or fleet upgrades. One detailed guide titled “The DJI Ban Explained: What You Need to Know” walks through how the ban works “Under the” 2025 NDAA, describing how the annual defense budget legislation sets deadlines for federal agencies to phase out certain drones and restrict new acquisitions. That same guide notes that there is no requirement for private owners to surrender their aircraft, but it does warn that buyers who want specific models may need to secure them before the deadline if they rely on federal contracts or funding.
On the regulatory side, the FCC’s decision to stop granting new equipment authorizations creates a parallel clock for manufacturers and retailers. A separate FAQ aimed at pilots, introduced with the line “Below is a rundown of the most frequently asked questions I have gotten in regardcs to the DJI ban,” underscores that new DJI drones will not be approved or imported once the rules are fully in force. The combination of statutory deadlines for government users and regulatory cutoffs for new hardware means that, over the next few years, DJI’s footprint in the U.S. market is likely to shrink even if existing drones remain in the air.
Industry fallout and the search for alternatives
The immediate commercial impact of the FCC’s move is clear: DJI and other Chinese manufacturers are losing access to the world’s most lucrative drone market for future products. One market‑oriented analysis bluntly states that the “US Foreign Drone Ban Is Here,” and that DJI is “Hit Hardest” by “New FCC Rules,” with rival Autel also singled out as being among those hardest hit. For U.S. manufacturers and smaller foreign players, that opens a window to capture market share, but it also raises questions about whether they can match DJI’s scale, price points, and rapid product cycles.
Creative professionals and filmmakers are already gaming out what a DJI‑light future might look like. One production‑focused piece notes that “Well, it’s finally happened,” as the FCC has made it official that no new DJI drones are set to enter the U.S., and then walks through what that means for aerial cinematography and gear budgets. High‑end productions may be able to pivot to alternatives or rely on existing fleets, but independent creators who counted on DJI’s aggressive pricing and frequent updates could find themselves squeezed. That, in turn, may slow the adoption of advanced aerial imaging in fields from real estate to journalism.
Why CES 2026 is a pivotal moment for the FCC chair
All of this context is why the FCC chair’s appearance at CES 2026 is drawing such intense scrutiny. One preview of the event notes that the FCC chair will speak at CES and directly poses the question of whether he will address the DJI ban, explaining that the session is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday and that observers will simply “have to wait and see,” as described in a piece that asks “What is the DJI ban?” In other words, the controversy is no longer confined to regulatory filings and defense committees; it is now a headline topic at the biggest consumer tech show in the world.
Another report on the same appearance underscores that, “In case you haven’t been following the news, the momentum towards a total ban on DJI drones in the” United States has been building, and that tech watchers will be listening closely to see whether the chair signals any shift in that trajectory, a point captured in a piece that again asks “What is the DJI ban?” For the FCC, CES offers a chance to defend the policy in front of an audience that includes not just policymakers but also the engineers, entrepreneurs, and consumers who will have to adapt to it. For critics, it is an opportunity to press the chair on whether the commission has fully weighed the economic and innovation costs of its security‑driven approach.
What a “total ban” could look like from here
So far, the U.S. has stopped short of a complete prohibition on DJI hardware, but the direction of travel is clear enough that many in the drone community are bracing for more. The pilot‑focused FAQ that asks “Will DJI drones Be Banned Completely In The U.S. In” future years frames the current situation as a collision of “politics, regulation, and inaction,” and warns that, without clearer guidance, the market could drift toward a de facto total ban even without an explicit law to that effect, a concern laid out in detail in the same Dec analysis. If the FCC were to expand its covered list actions or if Congress were to tighten the NDAA further, the remaining loopholes for new DJI products could close quickly.
At the same time, some coverage stresses that the current rules still allow consumers to buy DJI and other Chinese drone products that have already been authorized, at least for now. One overview notes that “You can continue to buy DJI and other Chinese drone products” that are already in the channel, even as future models are blocked. That gap between perception and reality is part of what makes the FCC chair’s messaging at CES so important: if he signals that the current partial ban is a final destination, the market may stabilize around alternatives and grandfathered DJI gear. If he hints at further action, the scramble to stock up on approved models and sub‑$500 bargains is likely to intensify.
More from MorningOverview