Washington and the drone industry: legislation, procurement, security reviews, and agency policy beyond the FAA.
The United States government is conducting a security investigation into DJI and Autel drones to assess whether their import or use poses a threat to national security. The outcome of this investigation seems predictable—it will likely align with the government’s objectives. Here’s what this means for the drone industry in the United States. I’m Russ,…
Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have five stories for you this week: the Department of Commerce launching an investigation into UAS and component imports, lawmakers calling for an expedited audit of DJI and Autel, Representative Stefanik introducing an amendment to audit all Chinese drones, a new FAA administrator, and DJI releasing three…
Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 last December, setting a December 23, 2025, deadline for a national security agency to assess risks posed by Chinese-manufactured drones. With less than six months remaining, DJI has intensified its push for a transparent and thorough evaluation, arguing that a rushed or incomplete process…
Researchers at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University have uncovered patterns in drone operations that challenge safety norms, with many small uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) flying above the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) established 400-foot ceiling. This nationwide analysis highlights growing drone usage and identifies “hot spots” where encounters with manned aircraft could escalate. The
U.S. drone delivery company DEXA has achieved a major regulatory milestone by obtaining a national Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration, enabling autonomous operations without visual observers across the country. This approval positions DEXA alongside industry leaders like Amazon Prime Air, Wing, and Zipline in advancing commercial drone logistics.…
Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have three stories for you this week: the FAA missed the deadline for the BVLOS and PRM, Senator Rick Scott introduced the Drones for America Act to phase out Chinese drones, and a drone allegedly collided with a rescue helicopter in Texas. Let’s dive in. FAA Misses…
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth released a directive on July 10, 2025, that pushes the Pentagon to speed up drone production and deployment, labeling uncrewed systems as the biggest battlefield shift in decades. This move addresses gaps in U.S. military capabilities against rivals producing millions of low-cost drones annually, setting firm deadlines to equip…
On July 9, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Bryan Bedford as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator, tasking the former Republic Airways CEO with overseeing critical airspace reforms, including drone integration. Bedford’s confirmation, secured by a 53-43 vote, according to the NYT, positions him to tackle urgent safety and modernization challenges at a pivotal moment…
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