March 23, 2026 The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has banned the import of all new foreign-made consumer routers following a government review citing cybersecurity risks. The order targets devices widely used in homes and networks, with Chinese manufacturers estimated to control at least 60% of the U.S. router market.
The FCC said the decision followed a White House-convened assessment that found imported routers pose “a severe cybersecurity risk that could be leveraged to immediately and severely disrupt U.S. critical infrastructure.”
The agency stated that malicious actors have exploited vulnerabilities in foreign-made routers to “attack households, disrupt networks, enable espionage, and facilitate intellectual property theft,” referencing incidents including Volt and Salt Typhoon. The ban applies to new imports, with an exemption for devices the Pentagon determines do not present unacceptable risks.
Lawmakers have supported the move. Representative John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on China, said the decision “protects our country against China’s relentless cyberattacks” and emphasised that routers are central to national connectivity and infrastructure.
The decision comes amid broader scrutiny of Chinese-linked technology. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently filed a lawsuit against TP-Link Systems, alleging deceptive marketing practices and security concerns. TP-Link has denied the claims, stating that the Chinese government has no ownership or control over the company, its products or user data.
The FCC has taken similar steps in adjacent categories, including rules introduced in December banning imports of new Chinese drone models. At the same time, previous discussions about restricting domestic sales of certain router brands have not yet resulted in a full sales ban.
The action reflects a continued tightening of controls on network infrastructure components, particularly those linked to foreign manufacturing, as regulators prioritise risk mitigation across consumer and critical systems.
