Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) raised alarms in a December 18 letter over the use of DJI drones—made by a Chinese military-linked company—by U.S. government contractors at nuclear weapons facilities, military bases, and ports, citing espionage risks and federal bans.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

WASHINGTON — Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) are demanding answers from three major U.S. construction firms—Hensel Phelps, Brasfield & Gorrie, and Bechtel—after reports that they used DJI drones, made by a Chinese military-linked company, in sensitive government projects, including nuclear weapons labs, missile bases, and military installations.

In a December 18 letter, the senators warned that DJI drones pose “a threat to national security” and are banned for federal use due to risks of data theft and espionage, the Epoch Times reported.

DJI’s Troubling Ties and Federal Bans

DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer, has been blacklisted by the Pentagon since 2022 and banned from federal contracts since 2021 due to its ties to the Chinese military. A federal court upheld the ban in September 2025, blocking DJI from receiving U.S. grants, contracts, and loans.

Despite these restrictions, the senators cited an Office of Inspector General report revealing that a Pentagon-blacklisted DJI drone was used to photograph a construction site—raising concerns about ongoing violations.

“The U.S. government considers the use of Chinese-made drones generally—and DJI drones specifically—a threat to national security,” the senators wrote.

Security Risks of DJI Drones

The lawmakers highlighted three major risks from a 2024 CISA and FBI alert:

  1. Intelligence gathering on critical U.S. infrastructure.
  2. Hidden software updates that could enable covert data collection.
  3. Network vulnerabilities if drones connect to sensitive systems, potentially exposing classified facility layouts.

DJI drones are widely used in construction for mapping, inspections, and progress tracking, but their data-collection capabilities make them a potential espionage tool, the senators warned.

Demands for Transparency

Hassan and Peters are demanding answers from the contractors, including:

  • Details on DJI drone use in government projects.
  • Policies for drone data security.
  • Assessments of national security risks from using Chinese-made drones.
  • Whether drone-collected data was stored on vulnerable networks.

“These drone-supported cameras can capture large amounts of information about the locations they are employed at, including strategically important locations and secure facilities,” the letter stated.

DJI’s Denials and Ongoing Scrutiny

DJI has denied ties to the Chinese regime and called for a “transparent audit process.” However, U.S. officials remain skeptical, noting that Chinese law requires companies to cooperate with intelligence agencies.

The senators’ letter follows last year’s defense budget, which set a December 23, 2025, deadline for a CISA audit that could ban DJI drones entirely from the U.S. market.

A Growing Threat

With DJI dominating the U.S. drone market, the senators’ warnings underscore the urgent need for stricter enforcement of federal bans. The use of banned drones in sensitive projects raises serious questions about contractors’ compliance and the potential exposure of classified U.S. infrastructure.

The senators’ probe marks a critical step in addressing what they call a “national security vulnerability“—one that could have far-reaching consequences for U.S. defense and intelligence.

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