On Monday, the Federal Communications Commission updated a list of foreign-made routers that post a threat to national security.
The list includes all consumer-grade routers that were determined by the White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body that “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons.” According to the White House, the executive branch determination noted that foreign-produced routers introduce “a supply chain vulnerability that could disrupt the U.S. economy, critical infrastructure, and national defense” and also pose a cybersecurity risk that could harm the country’s infrastructure or people.
President Donald Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy said, “the United States must never be dependent on any outside power for core components—from raw materials to parts to finished products—necessary to the nation’s defense or economy. We must re-secure our own independent and reliable access to the goods we need to defend ourselves and preserve our way of life.”
“I welcome this Executive Branch national security determination, and I am pleased that the FCC has now added foreign-produced routers, which were found to pose an unacceptable national security risk, to the FCC’s Covered List. Following President Trump’s leadership, the FCC will continue to do our part in making sure that U.S. cyberspace, critical infrastructure, and supply chains are safe and secure,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said.
The new determination included an exemption for routers purchased by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which have been granted “Conditional Approval” after the devices were found to not pose unacceptable risks.
The action does not impact a consumer’s use of already purchased routers. Nor does it prevent retailers from continuing to sell or import them. The restrictions in the latest action only apply to new device models.