THE FCC has added all foreign-made consumer-grade routers to its Covered List, prohibiting their use in the US. The move follows a White House-convened interagency determination that routers produced abroad pose a threat to national security, with the document stating that compromised devices can enable surveillance, data exfiltration, botnets and unauthorised access to networks.
The determination also notes attacks by state-sponsored groups such as Flax Typhoon, Salt Typhoon, and Volt Typhoon targeting critical infrastructure. According to NSD-Routers0326[.]pdf, new foreign-made devices on the Covered List are prohibited from FCC authorisation and importation for sale or use in the US, though existing authorised models are not affected.
Some router models may be exempt if specifically approved by the Department of War or the Department of Homeland Security, subject to confirmation of no unacceptable risks. The update references President Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy as part of the rationale.