Under the American Security Drone Act of 2023, the use of federal funds awarded through contracts, grants or cooperative agreements to purchase and/or operate foreign, commercial, off-the-shelf drones or unmanned aircraft systems manufactured or assembled in “covered” countries, most notably China, will be prohibited starting in December 2025.
As a result of this legislation, the purchase or use of some of the most common drones on the market, including Chinese manufacturers DJI and Autel Robotics, will be prohibited in federally funded projects. Therefore, WVU researchers and personnel should be aware of this new restriction when using or intending to utilize drones in federally funded research projects.
If you are already using a drone on a federal grant that extends into 2026, you should contact your project manager to discuss switching drones in the next budget period.
When planning to purchase a UAS/drone, it is important to consider the potential limitations of procuring a drone covered under this law and other proposed legislation.
Any new drone acquisitions or changes to existing drone inventory should be communicated to the Export Control Office at exportcontrol@mail.wvu, UPD at drones@mail.wvu.edu and WVU Risk Management at Kelsey.Knotts@mail.wvu.edu to help ensure compliance with all applicable federal regulations and WVU policies.
For questions or concerns, contact the Export Control Office at exportcontrol@mail.wvu.edu.