Washington has finally dropped the hammer on foreign drones buzzing over American soil with a ban that’s been brewing for years under the Trump administration.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) just rolled out a sweeping rule on Monday, barring Chinese-made drones from companies like Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI) and Autel from entering the U.S. market over serious national security concerns.

Years of Warnings on Drone Risks

This isn’t some overnight decision pulled out of a hat; the Trump team has been sounding the alarm on Chinese drones for years. Back in 2017, the U.S. Army banned DJI drones over security fears, setting the stage for broader action.

By 2021, the U.S. Treasury Department slapped investment restrictions on DJI, blocking Americans from trading its shares, while FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr pushed hard for a ban, alleging these drones hoover up sensitive data on everything from infrastructure to personal health metrics.

That same year, Carr took to social media to demand DJI’s addition to the FCC’s Covered List, a move echoed by lawmakers like Rep. Elise Stefanik and then-Rep. Mike Gallagher, who in 2023 introduced the Countering CCP Drones Act to cement this crackdown.

Lawmakers Slam Chinese Drone Threats

Rep. Stefanik didn’t mince words on the danger, saying, “DJI drones pose the national security threat of TikTok, but with wings.” Well, that’s a zinger—if TikTok’s data grabs worry you, imagine a flying camera beaming live feeds straight to Beijing. It’s not hard to see why conservatives are cheering this ban while shaking their heads at years of inaction.

Stefanik added, “The possibility that DJI drones could be equipped to send live imagery of military installations, critical infrastructure, and the personal lives of American citizens to China poses too great a threat.” That’s not just speculation; it’s a wake-up call for anyone who thought global supply chains were all sunshine and rainbows.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy fired back, claiming, “Beijing firmly opposed the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security, which disrupts and restricts normal economic and trade exchanges.” Nice try, but when critical infrastructure is at stake, most Americans aren’t buying the ‘let’s just trade’ line over protecting our sovereignty.

Industries Caught in the Crossfire

Here’s the rub: countless U.S. industries, from mining to public safety like police and fire departments, rely on DJI drones for daily operations. The FCC’s rule thankfully doesn’t touch existing drones, but future replacements could force a painful pivot.

DJI, for its part, isn’t taking this lying down, with a spokesperson expressing disappointment and noting no specific evidence was publicly tied to their company in the FCC’s decision. That’s a fair gripe, but when national security is on the line, the burden of proof isn’t a luxury we can always afford.

Adding fuel to the fire, DJI recently announced their new Mavic 4 Pro won’t even launch in the U.S., citing Trump’s tariffs and import hurdles as dealbreakers while rolling it out in Canada and Mexico instead. Talk about a market snub—America’s loss is apparently everyone else’s gain.

Security Over Convenience Wins Out

Looking back, the red flags have been waving for years—reports in 2022 highlighted DJI’s alleged ties to Chinese government funding and military connections, as noted by The Washington Post. That’s not the kind of resume you want for tech hovering over our homeland.

For conservatives, this FCC move is a long-overdue win against globalist policies that prioritize cheap goods over American safety, even if it stings some industries in the short term. It’s a reminder that freedom isn’t free, and sometimes it costs more than a drone’s sticker price.

So, while progressive voices might cry foul over trade disruptions, the Trump administration’s stance is clear: national security isn’t up for negotiation. Let’s hope this sparks a surge in American drone innovation—because if we’re banning the competition, it’s time to dominate the skies ourselves.