in effect
Executive Order 14307, signed June 6, 2025, directs multiple federal agencies to speed up the commercial integration of drones (unmanned aircraft systems) into U.S. airspace, strengthen domestic drone manufacturing, and expand exports of American-made drones. It sets binding deadlines for the FAA, Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, and other agencies to take specific regulatory and procurement actions.
The FAA must publish a proposed rule within 30 days allowing routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations — meaning drones flying beyond what the operator can see — with a final rule due within 240 days. Within 120 days, the FAA must begin using AI tools to speed up review of drone waiver applications. A new eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) will fund at least five real-world test projects for flying-taxi-style aircraft, selected within roughly nine months, running for three years. The Federal Acquisition Security Council must publish within 30 days a list of foreign drone companies deemed supply-chain risks, and federal agencies must prefer U.S.-made drones in their purchases. The Defense Department must expand its approved-drone list (the Blue UAS List) within 90 days and identify military programs that could be replaced by drones.
U.S. drone manufacturers gain preferential treatment in federal procurement and new export financing tools, while foreign drone companies — particularly those flagged on the new security list — face potential exclusion from U.S. government contracts. Commercial drone operators and companies seeking FAA waivers will face a faster, AI-assisted review process and eventually clearer rules for long-range autonomous flights. State, local, tribal, and territorial governments can apply to host eVTOL pilot projects, and the military services must assess which of their programs drones could replace.