Trump Signs Sweeping Executive Orders to Boost U.S. Drone Industry and Curb Chinese Tech Dominance
by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) — President Donald Trump signed a trio of executive orders on Friday aimed at revitalizing the U.S. drone industry, countering the growing national security threat posed by Chinese-made drones, and streamlining the path for advanced aerial technologies, such as electric air taxis and autonomous delivery drones.
The sweeping measures direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enable routine commercial operations for drones, particularly “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” (BVLOS) missions, a key hurdle to drone deliveries and emergency response use. The new policy also expands real-time drone detection technology, enhances protections around sensitive sites, and reduces reliance on Chinese suppliers.
“Drone warfare isn’t a future threat — it’s already here,” said Craig Singleton, senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. “This is a long-overdue investment in both deterrence and innovation.”
The orders come amid growing bipartisan concern in Washington over Chinese drone dominance. Chinese firm DJI, which controls roughly 70% of the global drone market, has been the target of mounting scrutiny. Currently, about 90% of drones used by U.S. first responders are manufactured in China. The U.S. military has been banned from using Chinese drones since 2018, and several states — including Florida and Tennessee — have adopted similar bans for local agencies.
Sebastian Gorka, Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council, said recent drone incidents over New Jersey and the dramatic battlefield use of drones in Ukraine and Russia were wake-up calls. “President Trump wanted action from week one. The footage from Ukraine shows how easily low-cost drones can cripple modern armies — or panic civilians,” Gorka said.
The Biden administration previously struggled to explain mysterious drone sightings over critical infrastructure, including a nuclear plant and President Trump’s Bedminster resort. FAA records later revealed those flights were authorized, yet the events exposed regulatory gaps and technological vulnerabilities.
Trump’s new orders also call for:
- Establishing a federal drone task force to oversee airspace security.
- Selecting at least five pilot programs for advanced aerial platforms, such as electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft for cargo and medical uses.
- Deploying artificial intelligence tools to speed up drone certification and waiver processes.
- Securing the drone manufacturing supply chain to protect against foreign exploitation.
Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, emphasized the urgency. “With the Olympics and World Cup on the horizon, and growing risks of criminal and terrorist drone use, we must secure the skies now.”
Even the National Football League weighed in, praising the move as “critical to protecting fans” at large public events.
A potential de facto ban on Chinese drone makers looms. Under a 2024 defense bill signed by President Biden, the U.S. must finish a national security review of Chinese drone communications equipment by December 23, 2025, or deny FCC licenses to firms like DJI, effectively grounding their drones in the U.S.
Capitol Hill has rallied around the issue. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced legislation last year to blacklist Chinese drone companies. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) recently unveiled a bill that would ban Chinese drones from use by police and fire departments nationwide.
“President Trump’s executive action is a bold declaration that the U.S. will no longer surrender its skies to foreign adversaries,” Singleton added. “It’s not just about innovation — it’s about sovereignty.”
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