The fire starter is quitting

[Dave Pitman]

Elise Stefanik, the first one on the Skydio anti-chinese payroll, and the congress person responsible for starting the DJI witch hunt, has announced she is quitting after being snubbed by the the maga administration.

While it won't help DJI at this point, it's great that we're rid of the one that started the mess. Rejoice in the small victories!

 

[DoomMeister]

Yep she started the xxxxstorm, and now she can retire with full benefits and health care for life plus get paid to be a lobbyist for Skydio and other overpriced and underperforming “US based” drone companies. It would most likely be very eye opening to have the Chinese content revealed in these US drones.

 

[JoeShmoe]

She single-handedly saved domestic drone industry, and successfilly defended homeland against invasive communist drones! Can happily retire now, resting on well-deserved laurels, and humbly accepting modest offerings from grateful citizens....

 

[Dave Pitman]

She single-handedly saved domestic drone industry

Remember when the US succeeded with innovation and hard work ! Ah, the good ol' days!

 

[Overspeed]

Governor Cruella de Vil is happy.

 

[BlueHeeler]

She single-handedly saved domestic drone industry, and successfully defended homeland against invasive communist drones! Can happily retire now, resting on well-deserved laurels, and humbly accepting modest offerings from grateful citizens....

I can absolutely hear Adam Bry say that.

 

[Bad Santa]

A conservative society can't thrive in a progressive world.
Every other country gets the good drones and the US will be stuck with the inferior ones.

Doesn't seem right.

 

[anotherlab]

Governor Cruella de Vil is happy.

It really didn't matter to Hochul.

Had Stefanik stayed in the race, the Republican primary would have been very bruising to Stefanik and Blakeman. Stefanik would have beaten Blakeman, but it would have taken a chunk out of her war chest. Hochul would have still beaten Stefanik handily.

The result would be Stefanik out of Congress and losing the race for Governor.

Trump doesn't reward losers, and Stefanik giving up a safe congressional seat to lose to Hochul would taint her permanently with Trump.

 

[GFields]

A conservative society can't thrive in a progressive world.
Every other country gets the good drones and the US will be stuck with the inferior ones.

Doesn't seem right.

It isn't right!
IMHO, it also seems unconstitutional.

 

[anotherlab]

It isn't right!
IMHO, it also seems unconstitutional.

The FCC does not have the statutory authority to refuse to license equipment solely on origin. They are usurping the role of Congress with setting foreign trade policy.

 

[Droning on and on...]

The FCC does not have the statutory authority to refuse to license equipment solely on origin. They are usurping the role of Congress with setting foreign trade policy.

I believe the NDAA, a law duly passed by Congress and signed by the POTUS gives them that authority.

 

[Dave Pitman]

Laws are meaningless unless you are an average citizen. Example: Tik Toc was banned by congress (Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (H.R.7521) ) . The law was challenged and upheld by the supreme court. Trump couldn't care less. Probably it just took a "donation" to the family crypto grift machine or some other "gratuity". But, it's all good, right?

 

[anotherlab]

I believe the NDAA, a law duly passed by Congress and signed by the POTUS gives them that authority.

It did not.

Section 1709 of the Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA called for an official review of DJI. It did not all FCC is to issue a blanket ban on all non-US drones.

 

[Droning on and on...]

It did not.

Section 1709 of the Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA called for an official review of DJI. It did not all FCC is to issue a blanket ban on all non-US drones.

The FCC has not issued a blanket ban on all non-US drones.

As of 12/23/25, a security audit of DJI, as required by the NDAA passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, has not been completed. Therefore, also as specified in the NDAA, DJI (and others) have be added to the "covered list" of companies prohibited from obtaining any new FCC certifications. This was not some rogue ruling by the FCC seizing power not granted to them by Congress, this was the FCC following the law as passed by Congress.

This is effectively a ban on any new DJI drone models not already certified as of 12/23. Again, this was the FCC following the law as passed by Congress.

If the FCC should retroactively revoke an existing certification, as the commission voted they had the authority to do, then they would be acting beyond the grant from Congress in the NDAA, and this would certainly be challenged. Despite the FCC puffing their chest about this, I don't believe they will try, as it will almost certainly be struck down by this SCOTUS.

 

[anotherlab]

The FCC has not issued a blanket ban on all non-US drones.

From the mouth of Brendan Carr: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-416839A1.pdf

Yesterday, following a thorough review by an Executive Branch interagency body with appropriate national security expertise that was convened by the White House, the FCC received a specific determination that UAS and UAS critical component parts that are produced in foreign countries pose “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons” and should be included on the FCC’s Covered List, unless the Department of War or the Department of Homeland Security makes a specific determination to the FCC that a given UAS, class of UAS, or UAS critical component does not pose such risks. The determination includes the equipment and services listed in Section 1709 of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act.

I read that as applying to any new drone (and component parts) not made in the US. That includes, but is not limited to, the vendors called out in Sec. 1709 of the 2025 NDAA.

 

[Bad Santa]

How does the FCC have the authority to ban batteries and/or props?

 

[Occams Razor]

Below is the actual update to the Covered List with the definition of critical components below. Which critical components are banned is ambiguous although I only see a couple of bloggers questioning it. My personal belief is that critical components that were certified along with the drone are not banned today. eBay still has listings for Mini 5 Pro batteries from Korea and Japan so that's a positive sign although there may be some lag for sellers in how to control banned items.

Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components produced in a foreign countryd and all communications and video surveillance equipment and services listed in Section 1709(a)(1) of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (Pub. L. 118-159).

December 22, 2025​

UAS Critical Components:

Data transmission devices
Communications systems
Flight controllers
Ground control stations and UAS controllers
Navigation systems
Sensors and Cameras
Batteries and Battery Management Systems
Motors