NDAA-compliant cameras and drones: what it means, how to check.

What the law actually says

Cameras and recorders: Section 889

Section 889(f)(3) of Pub. L. 115-232 covers telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei or ZTE, and video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera, Hangzhou Hikvision or Dahua, or any subsidiary or affiliate, used for public safety, security of government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure and other national security purposes. Federal agencies may not buy it (Part A) and may not contract with companies that use it (Part B). See our Section 889 guide.

The FCC Covered List carries the same five companies, added on 12 March 2021. Since 16 July 2026 the FCC has also barred the import and marketing of equipment added to the list in 2024 or earlier, including previously authorised models; for Hytera, Hikvision and Dahua this applies to the purposes their entries list (DA 26-635). That notice held back the purpose “physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure” until the FCC defined critical infrastructure; FCC 26-50, effective 13 October 2026, adopts that definition. Equipment already bought can still be used.

FCC 26-50 also bars FCC authorisation of devices built with a covered company’s logic-bearing components, requires full certification for changes a covered company makes to a device, and applies the marketing rules to online marketplaces, which must show the FCC ID (from 2027).

Drones: the American Security Drone Act

The American Security Drone Act of 2023 (FY2024 defense authorization act, Pub. L. 118-31, sections 1821–1833) bars federal agencies from buying drones made or assembled by a “covered foreign entity”, and, from 22 December 2025, from operating them or paying for them with federal contracts, grants or cooperative agreements. Covered foreign entities are those on the Federal Acquisition Security Council’s list published in SAM. Contractors meet this through FAR 52.240-1.

Drones: the FCC Covered List

On 22 December 2025 the FCC added to the Covered List drones and drone critical components produced in a foreign country, together with the DJI and Autel Robotics equipment named in section 1709 of the FY2025 defense authorization act (DA 25-1086). Critical components include data links, communications systems, flight controllers, ground stations and controllers, navigation, sensors and cameras, batteries and motors, with their software. Covered equipment cannot get a new FCC authorisation.

• Exceptions. Drones on the Blue UAS Cleared List and Buy American domestic end products (both until 1 January 2028), drones with a Conditional Approval from the Department of War or DHS, and qualifying toy drones. The Blue UAS and Buy American exceptions do not apply to the section 1709 equipment.
• Already-authorised models. The FCC says drones already authorised can continue to be imported, sold and used. It has proposed barring import and marketing of some previously authorised drones (DA 26-742, DA 26-832 and DA 26-758); none of those proposals has been adopted, and each says continued use of drones already bought would not be affected.

Why a relabelled device fails

Both the statute and the FCC rules ask who produced the equipment. A device made by a covered company and sold under another name is still that company’s product. The FCC said so for its own authorisations in 2022: re-branding does not change the status of covered equipment (FCC 22-84, paragraphs 187–188). In 2025 it read “produced by” broadly, to include control over any major stage of making the device, and said a device can have more than one producer (FCC 25-71, paragraph 53). For federal contracts, the Section 889 representation asks you to name the producer and say whether it was the maker or a distributor.

We do not publish a brand list. Lists of “compliant” and “non-compliant” brands go stale and miss relabelled products. The only names on this page are the ones the statute and the FCC Covered List name. Check the device in front of you.

How to check a camera, recorder or drone

1. Find the producer, not the brandRead the label and the FCC ID. The FCC ID search at fcc.gov shows who holds the authorisation and its test reports and photos; the grantee is not always the maker, so compare it with the seller’s documents.
2. Ask the seller in writingWho manufactured, assembled and designed the device and its main components, and in which country. For drones, ask about the flight controller, radio, camera and battery as well.
3. Check the FCC Covered ListCompare the producer with the named entities and, for drones, with the foreign-production entry and its exceptions. The list page also lists the Conditional Approvals granted so far.
4. For federal work, check SAMFor drones, check the covered foreign entities list published in SAM; for anything bought under a federal contract, check the solicitation’s Section 889 and drone clauses.
5. Keep the recordThe FCC ID, the seller’s answers, the list version you checked against and the date. If you represent to the government, that record is your reasonable inquiry.

Questions people ask

Is there an official list of NDAA-compliant cameras?

No. Section 889 names the companies whose equipment is covered (Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision and Dahua, and their subsidiaries and affiliates); it does not certify products. Lists of compliant brands come from sellers and go stale. Check who produced the device you have.

Can a camera with another brand name still fail Section 889?

Yes. Section 889 looks at who produced the equipment, not the brand. For its own equipment authorisations the FCC has said that re-branding does not change the status of covered equipment (FCC 22-84, paragraphs 187 to 188), and the Section 889 representation asks offerors to name the producer and whether it was the maker or a distributor.

Are DJI drones banned in the US?

Since 22 December 2025, foreign-produced drones and drone critical components, including the DJI and Autel equipment named in section 1709 of the FY2025 defense authorization act, are on the FCC Covered List, so new models cannot get FCC authorisation. The FCC says drones already authorised can continue to be imported, sold and used, and owners can keep using what they have. The FCC has proposed further limits on some previously authorised drones that have not been adopted.

What drones can federal agencies and contractors use?

Under the American Security Drone Act of 2023, federal agencies may not buy drones made or assembled by a covered foreign entity on the Federal Acquisition Security Council's list in SAM, and from 22 December 2025 may not operate them or fund them through federal contracts, grants or cooperative agreements. Contractors meet this through FAR 52.240-1.

Can I keep using a Hikvision or Dahua camera I already own?

The FCC rules on the Covered List do not stop you using equipment you already own. Since 16 July 2026 the FCC bars import and marketing of Hytera, Hikvision and Dahua equipment for the purposes their entries list; the critical-infrastructure purpose turned on the definition FCC 26-50 adopts, effective 13 October 2026. Federal contractors are a separate case: Section 889 Part B bars agencies from contracting with companies that use covered equipment.

Primary sources

• Pub. L. 115-232, section 889, enacted 13 August 2018.
• FCC Covered List, list dated 9 October 2026.
• FCC DA 25-1086, foreign-produced UAS and UAS critical components added to the Covered List, 22 December 2025; updated by DA 26-22 (7 January 2026), DA 26-253 (18 March 2026, the first Conditional Approvals), DA 26-588 (15 June 2026) and DA 26-761 (21 July 2026).
• FCC, Covered List FAQs: UAS and UAS critical components, read 12 October 2026.
• FCC 26-50, Third Report and Order, adopted 22 July 2026, 91 FR 57798, effective 13 October 2026 (logic-bearing components; the definition of critical infrastructure; online marketplaces).
• FCC DA 26-635, import and marketing prohibition for equipment listed in 2024 or earlier, 26 June 2026, effective 16 July 2026 (91 FR 41023).
• FCC 22-84, Protecting Against National Security Threats through the Equipment Authorization Program, released 25 November 2022, paragraphs 187–189.
• FCC 25-71, released 29 October 2025, effective 26 December 2025 (90 FR 53227), paragraph 53.
• Pub. L. 118-31, Title XVIII, Subtitle B (American Security Drone Act of 2023), enacted 22 December 2023.
• FAR 52.240-1, Prohibition on Unmanned Aircraft Systems Manufactured or Assembled by American Security Drone Act-Covered Foreign Entities (Nov 2024).

General information, not legal advice. BSJ Ventures publishes methods; it never publishes clients, cases or verdicts, and it claims no relationship with any agency or maker named here.

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