Federal Communications Commission announced a sweeping ban on consumer-grade routers manufactured outside the United States, citing national security risks. The action, driven by a Trump administration directive, prohibits the import and sale of new foreign-made routers in the US market. Routers already approved and in use remain unaffected, but the FCC will only grant conditional approval to new models if the Department of Homeland Security or Department of Defense determines they pose no unacceptable risk. Conditional approval requires foreign manufacturers to establish or expand US-based manufacturing, submit detailed justifications, and provide time-bound plans.

The ban applies to both foreign and US companies relying on foreign production, covering the entire manufacturing process. TP-Link, a major manufacturer, stated the rule appears to impact virtually all new consumer routers due to global supply chains, while Netgear expressed confidence in its supply chain security.