Image source: DJI
According to Commercial UAV News, the Senate committee’s decision was influenced by the fact that more than 6,000 public safety agencies opposed the ban. Also, according to unofficial data, hundreds of thousands of drone pilots have asked the US House of Representatives and Senate not to pass this law, which threatens to close up to 67% of small businesses in this industry.
However, it is too early for DJI to rejoice, since the entire US Senate must vote, and then both the Armed Services Committees of the Lower and Upper Houses will have to resolve differences between their versions of the bill, if any. Once Congress and the Senate give final approval to the NDAA, it will be sent to the President for signature.
DJI’s problems began after the US passed the American Security Drone Act (ASDA) last year, banning the use of DJI drones by federal agencies and all contractors who work on them.
It’s also worth noting that even if the 2025 NDAA passes without including a ban on DJI drones, there is another bill in the works—the First Responder Drone Act—that aims to expand restrictions on the use of DJI products.