The US government just banned consumer routers made outside the US | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.The US government just banned consumer routers made outside the USComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechThe US government just banned consumer routers made outside the USThe US claims foreign-made routers pose national security risks.The US claims foreign-made routers pose national security risks.by Sean HollisterCloseSean HollisterSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sean HollisterMar 23, 2026, 10:47 PM UTCLinkShareGiftPhoto: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The VergeSean HollisterCloseSean HollisterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sean Hollister is a senior editor and founding member of The Verge who covers gadgets, games, and toys. He spent 15 years editing the likes of CNET, Gizmodo, and Engadget.In December, the Federal Communications Commission banned all future drones made in foreign countries from being imported into the United States, unless or until their maker gets an exemption. Now, the FCC has done the exact same for consumer networking gear, citing “an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”If you already have a Wi-Fi or wired router, you can keep on using it — and companies that have already gotten FCC radio authorization for a specific foreign-made product can continue to import that product.But since the vast majority — if not all — consumer routers are manufactured outside the United States, the vast majority of future consumer routers are now banned. By adding all foreign-made consumer routers to its Covered List, the FCC is saying it will no longer authorize their radios, which de facto bans new devices from import into the country.Now, router makers need to A) secure a “conditional approval” that lets them keep getting new products cleared for US entry while they work to convince the government that they’ll open up manufacturing in the US, or B) make the decision to skip selling future products in the US, like dronemaker DJI already did.Like with the foreign drone ban, the FCC has a National Security Determination that it says justifies these actions, one which claims that “Allowing routers produced abroad to dominate the U.S. market creates unacceptable economic, national security, and cybersecurity risks,” and that “routers produced abroad were directly implicated in the Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon cyberattacks which targeted critical American communications, energy, transportation, and water infrastructure.”RelatedUS targets TP-Link with a potential ban on the Chinese routersTexas is suing TP-Link over its ties to ChinaFeds shut down a China-backed botnet targeting home office routers.“Given the criticality of routers to the successful functioning of our nation’s economy and defense, the United States can no longer depend on foreign nations for router manufacturing,” reads another passage.It is true that a great many router vulnerabilities have surfaced over the years, which make them a popular target for hackers and botnets. It is also true that one China-founded company, TP-Link, is dominant in the US consumer market; US authorities had previously considered a specific TP-Link ban due to that dominance and national security concerns. (TP-Link has been attempting to distance itself from China, splitting off from the Chinese entity in 2022, establishing a global headquarters in California in 2024, and suing Netgear in 2025 for suggesting that TP-Link had been infiltrated by the Chinese government.)It is not clear how simply moving production of routers domestically would make them safer. In the Volt Typhoon hack, Chinese state-sponsored hackers primarily targeted Cisco and Netgear routers, routers designed by US companies, according to the Department of Justice. Those US companies had stopped providing security updates to the specific targeted routers, because they had discontinued those products.While the FCC’s Covered List makes it sound like the US is banning all “routers produced in a foreign country,” it’s defined a bit more narrowly than that. It’s specifically banning “consumer-grade routers” as defined in NIST Internal Report 8425A, which refers to ones “intended for residential use and can be installed by the customer.”Update, March 23rd: Clarified how TP-Link has distanced itself from China.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Sean HollisterCloseSean HollisterSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sean HollisterNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularNvidia CEO Jensen Huang says ‘I think we’ve achieved AGI’Confronting the CEO of the AI company that impersonated meVideoThe US government just banned consumer routers made outside the USThe improved battery-powered Starlink Mini is hereGemini task automation is slow, clunky, and super impressiveThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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The United States government has implemented a significant regulatory change, issuing a ban on the importation of consumer routers manufactured outside of the country. This action, spearheaded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), stems from concerns regarding national security risks associated with foreign-produced networking equipment. The core rationale centers on the potential for vulnerabilities within these routers to be exploited for malicious purposes, specifically citing the “Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon” cyberattacks that targeted critical US infrastructure – including communications, energy, transportation, and water systems. The FCC’s decision is formalized through its “Covered List,” which designates foreign-made consumer routers as ineligible for FCC radio authorization, effectively preventing their importation into the United States.

This action doesn’t impact existing routers already authorized for use, nor does it affect companies that have secured FCC approvals for foreign-manufactured products. However, it fundamentally alters the landscape for future consumer router purchases, as the vast majority of currently available routers are produced globally. The FCC’s approach necessitates a shift for router manufacturers, offering two primary pathways: securing “conditional approval” to maintain product clearance while investing in domestic manufacturing, or choosing to discontinue sales in the U.S. market, as exemplified by the move of Chinese router manufacturer, TP-Link.

TP-Link’s situation is noteworthy, presenting a complex case of attempting to distance itself from its Chinese origins through a global headquarters relocation and legal action against Netgear, alleging undue influence. Despite these steps, the US government's stance highlights concerns related to potential vulnerabilities and the concentration of router production within a single, China-based company, TP-Link, which historically dominated the US market.

The ban’s justification relies on the notion that foreign-produced routers pose unacceptable economic, national security, and cybersecurity risks. It underscores a broader strategy to mitigate potential threats to critical infrastructure. While many router vulnerabilities exist, and the targeting of Cisco and Netgear routers in the Volt Typhoon hack—companies based in the United States—demonstrates the potential impact of such attacks, the regulatory action suggests a significantly heightened level of concern regarding the origins of router technology. The FCC’s definition of “consumer-grade routers” through the NIST Internal Report 8425A adds a layer of specificity to the ruling, further clarifying the scope of the ban.

It's crucial to acknowledge that simply relocating router manufacturing to the United States wouldn't inherently resolve security concerns. The Volt Typhoon attack, for instance, was primarily directed at US-based companies that had ceased providing security updates to targeted routers, a common practice when products reach the end of their lifespan—a factor contributing to vulnerabilities. Nevertheless, the government's decision represents a deliberate intervention aimed at bolstering domestic manufacturing capabilities and safeguarding critical infrastructure against potential external threats, reflecting broader national security priorities.