Posted December 22, 2025 by Tiffany Lee
On Dec. 22, 2025, a federal government ban went into effect prohibiting the procurement of drones manufactured or assembled by certain foreign entities designated under the American Security Drone Act, or ASDA. This includes popular brands, such as DJI, which is on the U.S. Department of Defense’s 1260H restricted list.
Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.240-1, the enforcement mechanism for the ASDA, applies to all federally funded contracts. The university and its federally funded contractors will be barred from acquiring, operating or utilizing ASDA-restricted drones. Drones must be sourced from the government’s Blue UAS Cleared List. University researchers and departments are encouraged to review drone-related purchases and operations and budget accordingly for suitable alternatives. As a reminder, all commercial drone flights on, above or in campus property require university authorization.
The university’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Policy is available here.
