Please see below regarding immediate changes to federal regulations that impact the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) supported by FHWA funding.
Effective December 22, 2025, the American Security Drone Act of 2023 (ASDA) and OMB Memorandum M-26-02 strictly prohibit the use of federal funds for UAS manufactured by covered foreign entities.
What You Need to Know:
- The Ban: You may no longer use FHWA funds (including grants, loans, or cooperative agreements) to procure, operate, or maintain "covered UAS."
- What is "Covered”: This includes any aircraft, flight controller, camera, or ground control station supplied by a manufacturer that is based in, or subject to the control of, a foreign adversary country, specifically the People's Republic of China.
- Effective Date: This prohibition applies to all costs incurred after December 22, 2025.
Required Actions:
- Stop Procurements: Ensure no pending orders for this equipment will be paid for with federal funds.
- Cease Operations: If your existing fleet includes these covered UAS, you must cease their operation, maintenance, or data processing on any FHWA funded project or grant.
- Segregate Assets: We recommend physically quarantining these devices to prevent accidental use on federally funded projects.
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