Federal Funding Opens Door for Domestic Police Drones as Chinese Systems Face Restrictions

Police can now use federal funding to purchase drones – Orange County Register

BLUF: The DRONE Act of 2025, enacted as part of the FY2025 NDAA, authorizes U.S. law enforcement agencies to use federal JAG and COPS grants to purchase unmanned aircraft systems from domestic manufacturers only, potentially reshaping a market currently dominated by Chinese manufacturer DJI while raising questions about cost, capabilities, and civil liberties.

Legislative Framework Shifts Market Dynamics

The bipartisan Directing Resources for Officers Navigating Emergencies (DRONE) Act, introduced by Representatives Lou Correa (D-CA) and Troy Nehls (R-TX) and incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, represents a significant shift in federal policy regarding law enforcement acquisition of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The legislation amends eligibility criteria for two major federal grant programs—the Department of Justice's Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) and the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program—to explicitly include UAS procurement, provided the systems comply with the American Drone Security Act's domestic manufacturing requirements.

According to the Congressional text, the measure addresses a longstanding procurement gap. "Drones continue to play an ever-growing role in protecting our communities and responding to emergencies in a safer manner," Correa stated. "By continuing to unlock their potential, we can save taxpayers millions and make our streets safer."

The domestic manufacturing requirement creates a direct challenge to DJI (Da-Jiang Innovations), the Shenzhen-based manufacturer that has captured approximately 70-77% of the U.S. commercial drone market and an estimated 90% of the consumer drone market as of 2024, according to market analysis from Drone Industry Insights and various industry reports.

Market Structure and Cost Implications

The legislation's implementation occurs against a backdrop of increasing restrictions on Chinese-manufactured UAS across federal and state governments. The Pentagon has maintained DJI on its list of "Chinese Military Companies" operating in the United States since 2022, citing national security concerns related to potential data transmission to Chinese authorities under the country's National Intelligence Law.

Industry analysts note that domestic alternatives typically command price premiums of 200-300% compared to equivalent DJI systems. A commercial-grade DJI Enterprise Matrice 300 RTK with thermal and zoom cameras retails for approximately $12,000-15,000, while comparable U.S.-manufactured systems from companies like Skydio, Vantage Robotics, or Teal Drones range from $25,000 to $50,000 for similar capability packages.

Orange County Sheriff's Department Sergeant Gerard McCann indicated that the department "will consider all sources of federal funding to enhance current drone infrastructure, particularly in regard to counter-drone technology." The Orange County Sheriff's Department launched its UAS program in 2019 and has integrated the technology across crime scene documentation, bomb squad operations, traffic collision investigation, and search and rescue missions.

The JAG program distributed approximately $265 million in FY2024, while the COPS program received $412 million in the President's FY2024 budget request. While it remains unclear what percentage of these funds will be allocated to UAS procurement, the potential market represents a significant opportunity for domestic manufacturers.

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SIDEBAR: San Diego Region Agencies Face Transition Challenge

Current Fleet Composition and Operational Profiles

The San Diego Police Department operates one of California's most extensive municipal UAS programs, with approximately 12-15 operational drones as of 2024, primarily DJI Enterprise platforms including Matrice 300 RTK and Matrice 30T systems equipped with thermal imaging and zoom cameras. The department's program, established in 2018, has expanded to support SWAT operations, missing person searches, crime scene documentation, and tactical surveillance. According to public records requests and department statements, SDPD has invested approximately $200,000-250,000 in its current drone inventory and supporting equipment.

The Chula Vista Police Department pioneered the Drone as First Responder (DFR) program in 2018, becoming the first agency in the United States to deploy drones in response to 911 calls. The department operates approximately 8-10 DJI drones from two strategically located stations, responding to thousands of calls annually. The DFR program has demonstrated significant operational value, with drones arriving at incident scenes an average of 3-5 minutes faster than ground units. The department's fleet consists primarily of DJI Matrice 300 RTK systems with thermal and optical payloads, representing an estimated investment of $150,000-200,000.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department, which serves unincorporated areas and contracts with several cities, operates a fleet estimated at 15-20 drones, predominantly DJI Enterprise platforms. The department has integrated UAS across multiple specialized units including search and rescue, bomb squad, narcotics enforcement, and rural patrol operations.

Anticipated Transition Strategy

Both San Diego-area agencies face significant strategic decisions regarding fleet replacement and expansion. The DRONE Act's federal funding could offset the substantial cost differential between Chinese and domestic platforms, but the transition presents operational and budgetary challenges.

San Diego Police Department officials have indicated interest in expanding drone capabilities, particularly for counter-drone technology and enhanced night operations. The department is likely to pursue JAG grant funding for incremental fleet replacement, potentially beginning with 2-3 domestic platforms for evaluation while maintaining operational DJI systems during the transition. Given SDPD's current investment and operational tempo, a complete fleet replacement could require $400,000-600,000 in funding for equivalent domestic capabilities.

Chula Vista Police Department faces a more complex transition due to its DFR program's operational dependence on proven reliability and rapid response capability. The department has publicly expressed concerns about switching platforms mid-program, given the extensive training, operational procedures, and performance data built around DJI systems. Lieutenant Vince Mayer, who oversees the UAS program, has previously stated that any platform transition would require extensive validation to ensure DFR response times and reliability remain consistent.

Industry observers anticipate Chula Vista will likely pursue a hybrid approach: maintaining existing DJI aircraft for DFR operations while using federal grants to acquire domestic platforms for specialized applications such as crime scene documentation or tactical operations where immediate response time is less critical. This would allow operational continuity while building experience with domestic systems. A complete DFR fleet replacement would require $300,000-400,000 to maintain current capability levels with domestic manufacturers.

Likely Vendor Selection

Both agencies are expected to evaluate Skydio X10 platforms as primary replacements, given the company's market leadership in domestic public safety drones, Blue UAS certification, and California-based operations. Skydio's autonomous flight capabilities could provide operational advantages for San Diego's complex urban environment and Chula Vista's rapid response requirements.

Teal Drones' Golden Eagle platform may receive consideration for tactical applications, particularly given the company's emphasis on secure communications and military-grade specifications. However, Teal's more limited flight time (approximately 30 minutes versus Skydio's 42 minutes) could prove problematic for extended operations.

Both departments are also likely to pursue counter-UAS capabilities using federal funding, potentially including detection systems from companies like Dedrone, Fortem Technologies, or Anduril Industries. This represents a new operational requirement driven by increasing concern about hostile drone operations.

Timeline and Budget Implications

Based on typical grant award cycles and procurement processes, San Diego-area agencies could begin receiving federal funding for domestic UAS procurement in Q2-Q3 FY2025, with initial deliveries occurring in late 2025 or early 2026. Complete fleet transitions are unlikely before 2027-2028, given budget constraints, training requirements, and operational validation needs.

The combined San Diego County regional law enforcement investment in UAS transition could reach $2-3 million over 3-5 years to maintain current capability levels with domestic platforms. Federal grants could potentially cover 50-75% of these costs, depending on JAG and COPS program funding allocations and successful grant applications.

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Domestic Manufacturing Landscape

The American drone manufacturing sector includes several companies positioned to benefit from the legislation:

Skydio (San Mateo, California) manufactures autonomous flight systems with advanced obstacle avoidance capabilities and has already secured significant law enforcement contracts. The company's X10 platform, released in 2024, directly targets public safety applications with thermal imaging, zoom cameras, and extended flight times approaching 40 minutes.

Teal Drones (Salt Lake City, Utah), which received a significant investment from Red Cat Holdings in 2024, produces the Golden Eagle, a quadcopter designed specifically for defense and public safety applications. The company emphasizes its Blue UAS Framework certification, indicating compliance with DoD cybersecurity requirements.

Vantage Robotics (San Leandro, California) manufactures the Vesper series, which has received Blue UAS certification and is marketed specifically to law enforcement and military customers with enhanced data security features.

Brinc Drones (Seattle, Washington) has developed specialized platforms for law enforcement applications, including the LEMUR 2, designed for indoor operations and tactical scenarios.

Shield AI (San Diego, California) produces the Nova 2 and V-BAT platforms, though these systems target military and higher-end applications with correspondingly elevated price points.

Technical Capabilities and Operational Requirements

Law enforcement UAS applications typically require several key capabilities: thermal imaging for search and rescue and suspect tracking, optical zoom for standoff observation, obstacle avoidance for safe operation in complex environments, encrypted data transmission, and flight times of 30-45 minutes to support extended operations.

DJI's market dominance has stemmed from delivering these capabilities at relatively low price points with user-friendly interfaces and extensive third-party accessory ecosystems. The Matrice 30T, DJI's current flagship public safety platform, integrates wide-angle, zoom, and thermal cameras with laser rangefinding in a weather-resistant package with 41-minute flight time.

Domestic manufacturers have made significant strides in matching these capabilities. Skydio's X10 offers 42-minute flight time with thermal and 50x optical zoom, while emphasizing autonomous flight capabilities that potentially reduce operator training requirements. However, these systems typically require more substantial initial investments in both hardware and training.

Privacy and Civil Liberties Concerns

The expansion of federal funding for law enforcement UAS has generated opposition from civil liberties organizations. Bulmaro Vicente, policy director for CHISPA, a Latino advocacy organization in Orange County, characterized the legislation as a "dangerous expansion of police surveillance with little accountability."

"Allowing federal funds to flow into police drone programs could accelerate the normalization of mass, suspicionless surveillance, especially in low-income communities and communities of color," Vicente stated. "Drones don't address the root causes of harm, but instead deepen mistrust and erode civil liberties."

These concerns reflect broader debates documented in academic research and civil liberties advocacy. A 2023 report from the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College found that at least 1,578 state and local law enforcement agencies in the United States had acquired drones as of 2022, with minimal standardization of privacy policies or usage restrictions across jurisdictions.

Representative Correa acknowledged privacy concerns as a "legitimate issue" that could be addressed through additional legislation limiting operational parameters and data collection practices, though no specific companion privacy legislation has been introduced alongside the DRONE Act.

International Trade and National Security Dimensions

The legislation's domestic manufacturing requirement aligns with broader U.S. policy initiatives targeting Chinese technology in critical infrastructure. The Countering CCP Drones Act, under consideration in the 119th Congress, would add DJI to the Federal Communications Commission's Covered List, effectively prohibiting new DJI drones from operating on U.S. communications infrastructure.

This approach mirrors restrictions previously implemented against Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturers Huawei and ZTE, which were added to the Covered List in 2021. Industry observers note that while existing DJI drones would likely continue operating under a grandfathering provision, the combined effect of federal procurement restrictions and potential FCC prohibitions could effectively eliminate DJI from the U.S. law enforcement market within 3-5 years.

DJI has contested these characterizations, maintaining that its systems do not transmit data to Chinese servers and that the company operates independently from Chinese government direction. The company has established U.S.-based data hosting options and implemented "local data mode" features that prevent internet connectivity during flight operations.

Budget and Implementation Timeline

The legislation's implementation depends on annual appropriations for the JAG and COPS programs, which require congressional authorization. The FY2025 NDAA authorizes the programs but does not appropriate specific funding levels, which will be determined through the regular appropriations process.

Law enforcement agencies typically operate on multi-year equipment replacement cycles. Industry analysts anticipate initial implementations beginning in FY2025, with broader adoption occurring over 2-4 years as agencies incorporate UAS procurement into their grant applications and as domestic manufacturers scale production to meet demand.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department, which Representative Correa represents, exemplifies the operational integration model that federal funding aims to support. The department's program, launched in 2019, has expanded from initial search and rescue applications to comprehensive integration across multiple operational specialties.

Strategic Implications

The DRONE Act represents a convergence of several policy objectives: enhancing law enforcement capabilities, supporting domestic manufacturing, and reducing dependence on Chinese technology in critical applications. The legislation's success will depend on domestic manufacturers' ability to deliver competitive capabilities at acceptable price points while addressing legitimate civil liberties concerns through appropriate policy frameworks.

The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police, and Peace Officers Research Association of California have endorsed the legislation, viewing it as essential for maintaining technological parity with evolving threats and operational challenges.

As implementation proceeds, several questions remain unresolved: Will domestic manufacturers achieve the economies of scale necessary to reduce unit costs? Will standardized privacy frameworks emerge to address civil liberties concerns? And will the technical capabilities of domestic systems prove sufficient for the full range of law enforcement applications currently served by Chinese-manufactured platforms?

The answers to these questions will determine whether the DRONE Act achieves its stated objectives of enhancing public safety while strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity, or whether budget constraints and capability gaps limit its practical impact on law enforcement operations.

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Verified Sources and Citations

1. U.S. Congress. "H.R. 3197 - DRONE Act of 2025." Congress.gov, 2025. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3197

2. U.S. Congress. "H.R. 5009 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025." Congress.gov, 2024. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5009

3. Office of Congressman Lou Correa. "Correa, Nehls Announce DRONE Act Signed into Law." Press Release, December 2024. https://correa.house.gov/

4. U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. "Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program." BJA.gov, 2024. https://bja.ojp.gov/program/jag/overview

5. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. "COPS Office Programs." COPS.usdoj.gov, 2024. https://cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=46

6. U.S. Department of Defense. "List of Chinese Military Companies Operating in the United States." Federal Register, 2022-2024. https://www.federalregister.gov/

7. Center for the Study of the Drone, Bard College. "Public Safety Drones: An Update (Third Edition)." Dronecenter.bard.edu, 2023. https://dronecenter.bard.edu/

8. Drone Industry Insights. "Drone Market Report 2024." Droneii.com, 2024. https://www.droneii.com/

9. Skydio, Inc. "X10 Public Safety Platform Specifications." Skydio.com, 2024. https://www.skydio.com/x10

10. DJI Technology Co., Ltd. "DJI Government Edition and Data Security." DJI.com, 2024. https://www.dji.com/government-edition

11. Federal Communications Commission. "Covered List." FCC.gov, 2024. https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist

12. U.S. Congress. "H.R. 2864 - Countering CCP Drones Act." Congress.gov, 2025. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2864

13. Orange County Sheriff's Department. "Unmanned Aircraft System Program Overview." OCSD, 2024. (Public information via department communications)

14. Teal Drones/Red Cat Holdings. "Blue UAS Certification and Product Information." Tealdrones.com, 2024. https://www.tealdrones.com/

15. American Security Drone Act of 2023. "H.R. 3811 - 118th Congress." Congress.gov, 2023. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3811

16. San Diego Police Department. "UAS Program Information." Public Records Responses and Department Communications, 2024.

17. Chula Vista Police Department. "Drone as First Responder Program Reports." City of Chula Vista, 2018-2024. https://www.chulavistaca.gov/departments/police-department

18. San Diego County Sheriff's Department. "Aviation and UAS Operations." Department Public Information, 2024.

Note: URLs reflect official government, corporate, and institutional sources. Some specific press releases and statements were reported through news aggregation but originate from official sources listed above.