The Commerce Department said Thursday it is considering rules that could limit or even ban the sale of Chinese-made drones in the US – a move that follows growing alarm over a disturbing series of unidentified drone sightings in New Jersey and New York.

It was the role of drones in everyday life that drove Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., to get Congress to restrict the purchase of Chinese drones by federal agencies. Those restrictions were included in a bill that Democratic President Joe Biden signed last year.

The US government is seeking public input on proposed rules to secure the ICTS supply chain for drones, potentially limiting Chinese drones, which dominate US markets.

A broader ban is worrisome for Americans for whom drones have become a part of their lives and work. It could disrupt wide-ranging operations, from law enforcement to mapping and filmmaking that drone operators say are viable because of the low cost and high performance of the Chinese drones. American-made drones just aren’t comparable, they say.

Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed strong opposition on Friday to US Commerce Department's announcement of considering a new rule that could potentially lead to the restriction or ban of Chinese drones in the US citing national security concerns.

Just days after a proposed China-made drone ban was excluded from defense legislation, the US Commerce Department shared that it is working on potential new rules to restrict or ban the foreign-made UAVs over national security concerns.