Congressman John Moolenaar Chairman of the Select Committee on the CCP | Official Website
Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party have written to the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, VA. The letter addresses concerns over the county's use of Chinese-made DJI drones, which are listed by multiple federal government agencies for their potential to spy on U.S. soil, ties to the Chinese military, and involvement in actions against Uyghur people.
Fairfax County is located near Washington DC and hosts several national security sites such as the Central Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
In their letter, Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi state: “We understand Fairfax County currently operates a mixed fleet, and public safety programs, emergency services, and the fire department all utilize [unmanned aerial system] platforms to carry out their respective missions. The PRC-made UAS platforms and censors currently used by Fairfax County collect high-resolution imagery of facilities and individuals at risk, putting them at risk of being collected by the CCP.”
They further urge: “For these reasons, we urge Fairfax County to ensure PRC drones are excluded from procurement and partner programs in the future and assist other Counties and the Commonwealth of Virginia in adopting a drone procurement policy that adheres to the Virginia Public Procurement Act and the federal government’s framework of addressing PRC drones and its national security risks. A multi-faceted approach to government security is needed, and we would like to offer assistance as we develop standards for localities nationwide.”
The lawmakers have offered their support to help Fairfax County remove DJI drones from its fleet in favor of more secure alternatives.
