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Nearly 90% of drones used by North Dakota state agencies were manufactured in China, a statistic that has a Bismarck lawmaker concerned about potential security risks. Republican Rep. Mike Nathe has submitted a bill that proposes to spend $15 million to replace Chinese drones used by law enforcement, oil regulators, colleges and other state agencies, the North Dakota Monitor reported .
Lawmakers will consider the bill during the 2025 Legislature. “In North Dakota, we have drones going over oil fields, missile sites, Air Force bases, our agricultural land, everything,” Nathe said. “That’s not only a security concern for North Dakota, it’s a security concern for the U.
S.” Nathe Several federal agencies have warned about the risks of Chinese-manufactured drones. A Department of Defense statement from 2021 said that drones manufactured by Da Jiang Innovations, or DJI, pose potential threats to national security.
North Dakota agencies and public colleges and universities own 353 drones, with nearly 90% manufactured in China, according to research by Legislative Council. DJI is the manufacturer for most of those. Nathe said he’s concerned agencies could unknowingly be transmitting information about the state’s infrastructure to the Chinese.
His proposal would provide one-time funding to replace the drones as well as train state employees on the replacement devices. The legislation encourages agencies to share drones when possible. It contains an emergency clause, which means the bill could take immediate effect if it gets enough support from the Legislature.
Gov. Doug Burgum highlighted the bill Wednesday in his budget address, urging lawmakers to fast-track the proposal in the first week of the session, which begins Jan. 7.
The bill would bring North Dakota-owned drones in compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act and the American Security Drone Act, which prohibits federal agencies from buying and operating drones manufactured in “covered foreign entities.” The federal law takes effect in December 2025. Some state agencies have already begun taking steps to phase out or limit the use of Chinese drones to be in line with the federal requirements.
North Dakota State University Extension Service is phasing out Chinese-made drones by December 2025 and has begun acquiring new drones from a list of approved vendors known as the Blue UAS Cleared List, according to a statement NDSU provided to Legislative Council. The forest health manager for the North Dakota Forest Service stopped using Chinese drones in 2023, and the Public Service Commission has limited how its drone can be used, according to the Legislative Council research. North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said he welcomes the proposed legislation and the discussion it will spark.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation has six drones, all manufactured in China, according to Legislative Council. The agency uses the drones for crime scene reconstruction, protecting officers in the field and other practical applications, Wrigley said. It’s a serious concern if that data is being transmitted to a foreign government without the users’ knowledge, Wrigley said.
“The last thing the United States needs is for our enemies to have precise mapping of our infrastructure all across the United States,” Wrigley said. “So it’s a very legitimate concern, and one that we are going to do our part to help the Legislature see from every angle.” Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!.
