Trump’s Drone Executive Orders: Beyond the Fact Sheets

What’s Inside Trump’s Drone Executive Orders

On June 6, 2025, President Donald Trump signed two significant executive orders addressing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), marking a pivotal moment for the commercial drone industry and national airspace security. The orders, “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” and “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty,” establish an ambitious framework for expanding drone operations while addressing security concerns related to foreign-manufactured aircraft.  Read the full text of the Executive Orders here.

Major Focus on Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Operations

Part 108 Development Accelerated: Dates Assigned

The “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” executive order places unprecedented emphasis on enabling routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, with BVLOS featured as the first major priority in the administration’s drone strategy. Part 108, the long-awaited FAA regulation designed to standardize BVLOS operations for commercial drones, has received direct presidential attention and mandate for rapid implementation.

Under the new directive, the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the FAA Administrator, must issue a proposed rule enabling routine BVLOS operations for commercial and public safety purposes within 30 days. More significantly, a final rule must be published within 240 days of the order’s signing, representing one of the most aggressive timelines ever established for major aviation rulemaking.

The executive order also requires the FAA to establish clear performance and safety metrics for BVLOS operations within 30 days and identify regulatory barriers with recommendations for addressing them within 180 days. This comprehensive approach addresses years of regulatory delays that have hindered the U.S. drone industry’s competitiveness compared to other nations.

Industry Response to BVLOS Developments

Industry leaders have expressed strong enthusiasm for the administration’s focus on BVLOS operations. Vic Moss, CEO and Co-Founder of the Drone Service Providers Alliance, noted the significance of the presidential attention: “It’s exciting to see President Trump so excited about ‘Part 108’. The fact that BVLOS was the first bullet point for the ‘Unleashing American Drone Dominance’ EO is very encouraging for the commercial drone industry.”

Moss emphasized that the President’s direct engagement with BVLOS concepts during the signing ceremony demonstrates high-level commitment to advancing the technology. He highlighted that Secretary Duffy’s emphasis on BVLOS during confirmation hearings further signals that substantive regulatory movement is expected.

The current regulatory environment requires operators to obtain individual Part 107 BVLOS waivers for operations beyond visual line of sight, creating significant operational barriers. Part 108 is expected to eliminate this waiver-dependent system, enabling routine operations under standardized safety frameworks.

Chinese Drone Manufacturers and Security Considerations

Supply Chain Security Measures

The executive orders establish comprehensive measures to address concerns regarding Chinese-manufactured drones while stopping short of implementing immediate bans. The “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” order directs all federal agencies to prioritize U.S.-manufactured UAS over foreign-made alternatives “to the maximum extent permitted by law”.

Within 30 days, the Federal Acquisition Security Council must publish a Covered Foreign Entity List identifying companies that pose supply chain risks, as defined in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024. Additionally, the Secretary of Commerce is directed to take actions within 90 days, including proposing rulemaking and conducting investigations, to secure the U.S. drone supply chain against foreign control or exploitation.

DJI’s Response to the Executive Order

Leading Chinese drone manufacturer DJI has issued a comprehensive response welcoming aspects of the executive orders while emphasizing their security credentials. The company stated: “DJI has long advocated for the advancement and growth of the U.S. drone ecosystem. We applaud the administration’s action to boost industry innovation, particularly by expanding routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for UAS for commercial and public safety purposes”.

DJI emphasized their readiness to demonstrate security features: “We stand ready to cooperate with any rulemaking processes or investigations. Our position in the industry reflects early innovation and sustained investment in R&D, safety, and security”. The company highlighted that their drones feature “robust security protocols, are subject to independent audits, and offer industry-leading data privacy controls”.

Background on Chinese Drone Legislation

These executive orders build upon ongoing congressional efforts to address Chinese drone security concerns. The FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) mandated a risk assessment of Chinese-made drones by U.S. national security agencies, potentially leading to their inclusion on the FCC’s Covered List if deemed security risks. This legislative framework provided a one-year assessment period rather than implementing immediate bans.

Current enforcement actions have already impacted Chinese drone imports, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopping certain DJI drones at the border under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, citing concerns about manufacturing practices in China’s Xinjiang region.

Airspace Security and Counter-UAS Initiatives

Enhanced Detection and Identification Capabilities

The “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty” executive order establishes comprehensive frameworks for detecting, tracking, and identifying unauthorized drone operations. The order directs executive departments and agencies to use all available authorities to employ equipment for drone detection and signal identification, consistent with Fourth Amendment protections.

Key provisions include automated real-time access to personal identifying information associated with UAS remote identification signals for law enforcement agencies within 60 days. The order also requires publication of guidance for private critical infrastructure operators on employing detection technologies.

Regulatory Framework for Protected Facilities

The FAA is directed to promptly submit proposed rulemaking establishing processes for restricting drone flights over fixed-site facilities and critical infrastructure. This addresses long-standing concerns about unauthorized drone operations near sensitive locations.

The order requires national security assessments for facility restrictions to be conducted in coordination with Sector Risk Management Agencies and relevant federal departments. For military installations, coordination with the Secretary of Defense is specifically mandated.

Training and Capacity Building

The executive order establishes requirements for creating enhanced counter-UAS training capabilities, with particular focus on securing major upcoming events including the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the 2028 Summer Olympics. The Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security are directed to explore integrating counter-UAS responses into Joint Terrorism Task Forces.

Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Initiatives

Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Program

The orders establish the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) as an extension of the existing BEYOND program to accelerate deployment of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Within 90 days, the FAA must issue requests for proposals to state and local governments, with private sector partners required.

The program mandates selection of at least five pilot projects within 180 days, with operations beginning within 90 days of agreement establishment. Selection criteria prioritize U.S.-based eVTOL technologies and diverse operational models including medical response, cargo transport, and rural access.

Artificial Intelligence Integration

The executive order requires deployment of AI tools within 120 days to expedite UAS waiver application reviews under Part 107 regulations. These systems will support performance-based evaluation, identify similar precedents, and recommend consistent mitigation measures.

The AI implementation must comply with federal AI usage guidelines while identifying operation categories that may warrant future rulemaking to eliminate individual waiver requirements.

Defense and Export Promotion

For military applications, the orders expand the Defense Innovation Unit’s Blue UAS List to include all compliant platforms and mandate monthly updates. The Department of Defense must prioritize procurement of U.S.-made drones while minimizing exceptions to domestic sourcing requirements.

Export promotion receives significant attention, with the Secretary of Commerce directed to review and amend export control regulations within 90 days to enable expedited export of U.S.-manufactured civil UAS to allied nations. Multiple agencies are tasked with supporting exports through loans, guarantees, and market access facilitation.

Implementation Timeline and Industry Implications

The executive orders establish aggressive implementation timelines across multiple regulatory domains. The 30-day requirement for BVLOS proposed rulemaking represents unprecedented urgency in aviation regulation development. The 240-day final rule deadline significantly compresses typical rulemaking timeframes that often extend multiple years.

Industry stakeholders anticipate these measures will accelerate U.S. competitiveness in global drone markets while addressing legitimate security concerns through evidence-based assessments rather than blanket restrictions. The emphasis on domestic manufacturing and technology development signals long-term strategic commitment to maintaining American leadership in unmanned systems.

The comprehensive approach, spanning from BVLOS operations to counter-UAS capabilities, positions the administration’s drone policy as addressing both economic opportunity and national security imperatives through coordinated regulatory and technological advancement.