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October 3-7 | Starting at $500What the American Security Drone Act Means for Your Department
THE RULEAs of December 22, 2025, the American Security Drone Act prohibits federal funds awarded through a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement from being used to procure unmanned aircraft manufactured by a covered foreign entity. It also prohibits the use of federal funds in connection with operating them. DJI and Autel are covered entities. The authoritative list is maintained by the Federal Acquisition Security Council and published in SAM.gov.
The part most departments have missed.
The restriction is not limited to purchasing. The operating clause means an aircraft already in your inventory can create exposure on a federal award you currently hold, not only on your next acquisition. If your department flies a covered platform and has any federal funding touching that program, this is worth reviewing now.
What compliance actually requires.
There are three tiers, and they are not the same thing:
❋ NDAA compliantmeans no critical component originates from a covered foreign entity. Flight controllers, radios, data links, cameras, gimbals, ground control stations, software, and data storage all count. This is a manufacturer self-declaration. Nobody certifies it, so ask for a bill of materials.
- Green UAS is a certification administered by AUVSI covering supply chain integrity and cybersecurity. Since 2025, completing Green UAS confers Blue UAS Cleared designation.
❋ One practical warningListings change without notice. The roster has dropped multiple vendors in a single week before. A compliance status you verified last quarter is not evidence of compliance today, so confirm on the date of purchase rather than the date of quotation.
❋ Blue UAS Clearedis the government-verified list, managed by the Defense Contract Management Agency since December 2025. It is generally required for federal and defense procurement, and it opens GSA schedule eligibility.
For most public safety purchases, NDAA compliance is the operative legal bar. Blue UAS is a higher standard, not a universal requirement.
Where DroneRescue stands
We publish a general framework covering compliance audit, mission definition, authorization posture, specification, cost justification, and application build. Departments wanting that framework applied to their own fleet and mission profile can engage a fixed-fee readiness assessment.