U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Monday rolled out a proposed rule aimed at accelerating the use of drones across U.S. industries, pledging to “unleash American drone dominance.”
The Federal Aviation Administration plan would allow drones to operate beyond the visual line of sight without requiring individual waivers, a longstanding hurdle for farmers, construction crews and logistics companies. It also sets new standards for certification, safety and security vetting.
“We are making the future of our aviation a reality and unleashing American drone dominance,” Duffy said. “From drones delivering medicine to unmanned aircraft surveying crops, this technology will fundamentally change the way we interact with the world.”
The Department of Transportation framed the move as both an economic and geopolitical strategy, reducing reliance on foreign manufacturers while expanding U.S. leadership in drone technology.
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Industry advocates say the change could finally clear bottlenecks that have slowed broader adoption.
The proposal stems from President Donald Trump’s June executive order directing federal agencies to prioritize U.S.-manufactured drones, streamline regulations, and bolster domestic production and exports of unmanned aircraft systems. The Commerce Department has also considered banning Chinese-made drones.
The California Farm Bureau, meanwhile, has backed legislation supporting drone use in agriculture. In 2023 it pushed for Assembly Bill 1016, which streamlined certification for agricultural drone pilots. AB 1969 in 2024 would have expanded access to air quality grants to include drone pesticide applications but stalled in committee.
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