Trump Administration in Talks to Fund US Drone Companies

Trump Administration in Talks to Fund US Drone Companies

The Trump administration is in talks to provide funding to some drone companies, including Unusual Machines and Sequoia Capital-backed Neros, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. Drone dominance was described as a 'presidential priority' in President Trump's $1.5 trillion defense budget request for fiscal year 2027.

Details of the Talks

Months-long discussions between private sector firms and the Pentagon have included the Office of Strategic Capital, a Biden-era lending unit focused on companies critical to national security supply chains, according to the Journal.

Unusual Machines is a drone components maker that counts Donald Trump Jr. as an adviser, while Neros is a startup specializing in autonomous drones. Performance Drone Works, which won a contract to supply the U.S. Army with reconnaissance drones, is also under consideration for possible funding.

Some proposals being discussed include funding via a mix of debt and equity that could give the government ownership stakes. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House, the Pentagon and the companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.