DJI, the world’s leading manufacturer of civilian drones, has escalated its dispute with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by filing an appeal in the Ninth Circuit after the FCC placed many DJI products on its “covered list,” which the FCC uses for telecommunications equipment it deems an unacceptable national security risk. DJI says the decision
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Trump’s Drone Duet: Executive Orders Cracking Down on Threats While Boosting U.S. Drone Leadership
This post was co-authored by Government Enforcement + White-Collar Defense partner David E. Carney.
On June 6, 2025, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders aimed at significantly reshaping the future of drone policy in the United States. One focuses on protecting national airspace from malicious drone threats, while the other seeks to supercharge…
CISA and FBI Issue Cybersecurity Guidance for the Use of Chinese-Manufactured Drones
Last week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released Cybersecurity Guidance: Chinese-Manufactured Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), which outlines the risks and threats posed by Chinese-manufactured unmanned aerial systems (UAS or drones) and provides cybersecurity safeguards to reduce these risks to networks and sensitive data.
The biggest issue:…
Alaska Expands Use of Drones for Avalanche Monitoring
State and local agencies’ use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS, or drones) has exploded in recent years. In Alaska, the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (Department) has started using drones for critical infrastructure inspection and avalanche monitoring and mitigation.
With Alaska’s freezing temperatures and expansive geography, drones offer the Department a chance to get…
Lawmakers Seek Ban of Chinese Drones for U.S. Government
Next week, the House of Representatives China Committee plans to introduce a bill that would ban the purchase of Chinese-made drones by the U.S. government. This bill is an effort to revamp the prior push for this ban that was derailed by lobbying efforts.
The American Security Drone Act, as it is coined, would not…
The 2023 FAA Reauthorization Package and its Impending Impact on the Drone Industry
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been working toward one goal when it comes to drones: get more of them safely in the air. However, right now, the FAA is without a permanent leader or a stable funding package. The Senate Commerce Committee recently held a hearing to consider a nomination for FAA Administrator; hopefully…
FAA Extends the Compliance Deadline for Remote ID Rule to March
This week the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that drone pilots who are unable to comply with the Remote ID Rule broadcast requirement will have until March 16, 2024, to equip their drone appropriately. If a drone pilot fails to comply with this requirement after this extended deadline, the pilot could be subject to fines…
FAA UAS Remote ID Rule and the Insurance Industry Data Use Case
As more and more unmanned aerial systems (UAS or drones) hit the skies, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the UAS Remote Identification (RID) Rule to increase airspace safety and security. The time has come for the Rule to go into effect. As of September, the FAA’s remote ID requirements take effect. This means that…
Drone Data Marketplace Assists in Assessing Flood Risk and Better Disaster Response
Globhe Drones, based in Sweden, provides a subscription model platform for businesses to access data from about 8,000 drone operators in 134 countries. Globhe’s drone data marketplace gathers aerial imagery and generates digital terrain models to assist in creating flood modeling. Users of the platform can order specific drone data missions from the marketplace almost…
Public-Safety Drones Specialist Launches Humanitarian Rescue Program
BRINC, a public-safety drone specialist based in Las Vegas, Nevada, announced the formation this week of the BRINC Global Rescue Network, a program committed to aiding in global humanitarian efforts. The network includes 24 public-safety professionals, military veterans and current and former drone racing league professionals. The team has been deployed to over 55 countries.…