Trump’s ban on Chinese drones is making fighting wildfires harder, says leaked memo
The US has been hit by one of its worst wildfire seasons in years. | Image: Dylan Bouscher via Getty Images
Last year, the US Interior Department, which is responsible for maintaining federal land, grounded its fleet of more than 800 drones over fears they could be compromised by Chinese spies. Now, an internal memo from the department leaked to The Financial Times says the decision is hampering the federal government’s ability to fight wildfires.
The grounding of the fleet led to a de facto ban on the purchase of Chinese drones and drones containing Chinese parts. This caused the Interior Department to cancel plans to buy 17 Ignis drones, says the FT. These are specialist UAVs used to start managed burns, a key tool in controlling wildfires.
Without the drones, says the leaked memo,...
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