The Federal Communications Commission announced on March 23, 2026, that new consumer-grade routers manufactured outside the US pose an unacceptable national security risk and will be added to its Covered List. The ban applies to sales of new models but spares existing and previously authorized routers. Manufacturers may seek exemptions by planning to shift production to the US.
The FCC released a fact sheet and notice on Monday, March 23, designating any consumer routers with major manufacturing, assembly, design, or development stages outside the US as foreign-made and subject to the ban. This includes nearly all routers sold in the US, such as those from TP-Link, Asus, Netgear, D-Link, Eero, Razer, and even US-headquartered firms like Netgear and Google Nest that produce in Asia, including Taiwan. Retailers can continue selling models previously approved under prior policies, and devices on the Covered List may receive updates through at least March 1, 2027, with possible extensions. Previously purchased routers are unaffected and do not need replacement. FCC Chair Brendan Carr stated: “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.” The action aligns with the White House's 2025 national security strategy emphasizing US independence in core components for defense and economy. Companies can apply for conditional approval from the Department of War or Homeland Security by submitting plans to move some manufacturing stateside, though none have been granted yet. TP-Link has faced prior scrutiny over China ties, but the ban is broader. CNET and others sought comments from affected firms without immediate responses.
