President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order to boost domestic drone production and fast-track testing of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including advanced electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, commonly called air taxis.
“The time has come to accelerate testing and to enable routine drone operations, scale up domestic production, and expand the export of trusted, American-manufactured drone technologies to global markets,” the order states.
The order directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to speed up approvals for routine commercial drone operations, including beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights. Within 120 days, the FAA must begin using AI tools to review drone waiver requests more efficiently by identifying similar past applications and standardizing decisions.
Additionally, the executive order launches a pilot program to advance the development and integration of eVTOL aircraft.
To reduce reliance on foreign-made drones, particularly those from China, the order encourages federal and local governments to prioritize American-manufactured drones.
It also tasks the Commerce Department with securing the domestic drone supply chain against national security risks posed by foreign components.
The Federal Acquisition Security Council is instructed to publish, within 30 days, a list of foreign companies considered security threats.
Additionally, the order establishes a federal task force to oversee U.S. airspace, enhance real-time drone detection, and support local law enforcement in preventing unauthorized drone activities.
