Trump orders assessment of security risks of Chinese drones in final broadside before he leaves office
- Trump’s order also directs agencies to outline ‘potential steps that could be taken to mitigate these risks’, including discontinuing all federal use
- Last month, the US Commerce Department added China’s DJI Technology, the world’s largest drone maker, to the US government’s economic blacklist
President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order directing US agencies to assess any security risks from Chinese-made drones in American government fleets and to prioritise removing them.
Trump directed all US agencies to outline the security risks posed to the existing government drone fleet from drones built by Chinese companies or by other countries deemed foreign adversaries, including Russia, Iran and North Korea.
Trump’s order also directs agencies to outline “potential steps that could be taken to mitigate these risks, including, if warranted, discontinuing all federal use of covered (drones) and the expeditious removal of (drones) from federal service.”
Last month, the US Commerce Department added China’s SZ DJI Technology Co, the world’s largest drone maker, to the US government’s economic blacklist, along with dozens of other Chinese companies. A DJI spokesman declined immediate comment on Monday.
In January 2020, the US Interior Department grounded its fleet of about 800 Chinese-made drones but said it would allow their use for emergency situations.
US Interior Secretary David Bernhardt in October ordered a halt to additional purchases of Chinese-made drones by the department.