Appeals Court Orders Rehearing in DJI’s Case Against Pentagon Blacklist
On August 14, local time in the United States, DJI’s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense reached a significant turning point. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that a lower court must re-examine the case involving DJI’s inclusion on the Pentagon’s “Chinese Military Company” (CMC) blacklist. This ruling marks an important procedural victory for DJI’s years-long legal fight in the U.S.
DJI was first added to the Pentagon’s CMC blacklist in October 2022. The company has repeatedly issued statements publicly opposing this designation. After administrative appeals failed, DJI formally filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in October 2024. In 2025, the lower court ruled in favor of the U.S. Department of Defense, prompting DJI to appeal.
In the latest ruling on August 14, the appeals court focused on the core question of whether DJI contributes to China’s defense industrial base. The court found that the lower court’s review had flaws and insufficient evidence, and ordered the case back to the district court for a fresh review—including an examination of classified documents—before deciding whether DJI should remain on the CMC list.
In response to this latest ruling, DJI stated: “We welcome this positive decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals, which is an important step toward ultimately correcting the wrongful listing. This ruling further confirms DJI’s long-standing and firm position against using our products and technology for any military or warfare purposes. Moving forward, we will continue to resolutely defend the legitimate rights and interests of the company and our global users through legal means.”