Industries across the U.S, from small businesses and farmers to filmmaking and construction, depend on drones to power their operations. These tools drive tens of billions of dollars in economic activity and support hundreds of thousands of American jobs, but all that could crumble in less than a month due to government inaction.  As a small business owner for over 35 years, I’ve seen firsthand how drone technology has transformed the photography industry. Aerial photography expands creative possibilities, allowing us to capture unique angles, cover larger areas, and work more efficiently and affordably, making high-quality photography more accessible than ever.   However, some in Congress and certain D.C. bureaucrats risk upending the drone industry—my industry —which is tired of the endless, baseless attacks.  In less than a month, the entire ecosystem could be disrupted. Last year, Congress directed a U.S. national security agency, through Section 1709 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), to evaluate whether certain drones, including the largest global drone manufacturers, pose a threat to national security or the safety of U.S. citizens. That evaluation has yet to be completed. And if it’s not finished by December 23, 2025, the FCC will be required to add DJI and Autel drones to its “Covered List” by default. This action will ban the sale of new products in the U.S., cutting off access to state-of-the-art technology and putting jobs and economic growth at risk.   Undercutting the existing U.S. drone market isn’t just bad policy, it’s a direct threat to thousands of small businesses across the country. D.C. needs to stop listening to U.S. drone manufacturer lobbyists that claim to represent the UAS industry and start paying attention to the folks who actually fly drones for a living. That’s why I co-founded the Drone Service Providers Alliance (DSPA) back in 2020—to ensure the voices of working drone professionals are heard loud and clear.   DSPA represents businesses of all shapes and sizes. I’ve met with hundreds, if not thousands of drone owners over the years, and they say they’d love to put America first and fly a U.S. made drone.  But the truth is that no U.S. manufacturer offers a true replacement for the models most drone pilots depend on. Not one matches the reliability, affordability, and performance of the drones we use today. That’s not a knock on American ingenuity—it’s a consequence from decades spent offshoring manufacturing and RD. If a ban moves forward, it would not only stall my business and countless others, it would significantly drive up our operational costs and limit the services I can offer our clients.  Any politician or organization who believes we can flip a switch and have a thriving U.S. drone manufacturing industry overnight is selling a pipe dream. The folks who rely on drones every day know better and will feel the impact of a ban immediately. A recent DSPA study found that nearly two-thirds of U.S. drone businesses would close their doors if they lost access to these products. That’s the reality we’re facing, and it’s time policymakers caught up.   To top it off, the FCC recently approved a new rule banning the importation or sale of technology that was previously allowed but would now be placed on the FCC Covered List. If the December 23 deadline passes, and DJI and Autel are placed on the Covered List, our businesses would lose access to the most advanced and safest UAS technology. In other words, not only would the sale of new drones be prohibited, but even existing products already on the market, including the ones businesses like mine use today, could be completely banned, along with critical parts safety parts already in use.  Despite claims, these actions will not boost U.S. supply chain security. Right now, the American drone industry isn’t ready to handle the kind of demand that a ban would unleash. Current U.S. manufacturers can barely fill the orders they already have, with major U.S. manufacturers recently bragging that they can now produce 1,000 drones a month. We need hundreds of thousands a year. This won’t scratch the surface. Expecting them to produce millions more is a fantasy. We don’t have the infrastructure, the raw materials, or even the interest in building the kinds of drones DJI and Autel make for commercial and recreational use. In fact, the Government Accountability Office has confirmed that no U.S. company currently offers a comparable drone.  American businesses deserve a fact-based review of DJI and Autel’s security profiles—not a blanket ban triggered by bureaucratic delay and baseless accusations.  Congress should take appropriate action to extend the deadline, allow for a proper evaluation, and protect the industries that rely on these tools every day.   Jobs, lives, and even the safety of the U.S. airspace depend on this. It’s time for Congress to do the right thing and save the U.S. drone industry. Because its current course will destroy it. And those U.S. manufacturers and trade associations know it.  We are simply asking for logic and common sense to be injected into the discussion.   Vic Moss is a Denver-based photographer and videographer who has owned Moss Photography since 1988, and the co-founder of the Drone Service Providers Alliance. He is a Remote Pilot with 13 years experience, and a subject matter expert on FAA drone regulatory matters.  ...read more read less