President Donald Trump signed executive orders on Friday that officials said would reshape the global drone industry and American airspace operations — and perhaps even lead to flying cars.
“Flying cars are not just for the Jetsons, they’re also for the American people,” Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology, said on a call with reporters previewing the policy changes, which include removing regulations and promoting the development of these vehicles.
The orders are meant in part to boost U.S. manufacturing of drones, which has lagged behind cheaper and more advanced imports from China, alarming China hawks. Officials said the orders would remove regulations that make it more expensive to manufacture drones domestically, instruct federal agencies to prioritize the procurement of U.S.-made drones, and direct the creation of a grant program for local authorities to buy them.