FCC bans foreign-made routers over national security concerns

One of the most boring and ubiquitous pieces of modern consumer technology is suddenly in the crosshairs of the Trump administration as an urgent national security threat: that dusty internet router on your shelf that broadcasts Wi-Fi around your home.

The FCC has ruled that foreign-made routers “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons.” Chinese firm TP-Link currently dominates the US market. In a testimony to Congress last year, the former director of cybersecurity said that TP-Link had “grown to at least 60% of the U.S. retail market for Wi-Fi systems and SoHo routers.” TP-Link did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Internet-connected consumer devices like routers have long been a favorite target for cyberattacks. Most people aren’t great about changing the default passwords, and when was the last time you sat down to update your router’s firmware? A huge number of these devices have not received important security updates, and some might be so old they are no longer supported by the manufacturer.

A 2025 Device Security Threat Report from Palo Alto Networks found that approximately 21% of all Internet of Things devices have at least one known vulnerability. The FCC specifically cited how compromised routers were used in the Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon cyberattacks that targeted US infrastructure.

The move is a boon to US consumer router manufacturers like NTGR, which rocketed up as much as 18% on the news. Google and Amazon also make consumer routers, but it isn’t a major revenue driver for either.

In a similar action last year, the FCC banned all foreign-made quadcopter-style drones and related components.