The US government has recently prohibited the use of all Wi-Fi routers manufactured outside the country.

      The FCC has recently placed a ban on foreign-made routers by including them on its Covered List, which identifies equipment considered a national security threat to the United States. As a result, new foreign-manufactured routers cannot be sold in the U.S. unless they receive a specific exemption.

      If you're concerned about your existing router at home, there's no need to worry just yet. This ban currently only impacts the approval of new routers.

      Why is the U.S. government concerned about routers?

      A National Security Determination issued on March 20, 2026, indicates that routers have become prime targets for hackers and state-sponsored cyber threats. In today's public notice, the FCC stated, “Foreign-produced routers pose unacceptable risks to Americans, enabling disruptions in network connectivity, local networking espionage, and intellectual property theft.”

      The notice cites several significant cyberattacks as proof, highlighting that “routers produced abroad were directly involved in the Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon cyberattacks, which targeted critical U.S. communications, energy, transportation, and water systems.”

      National security agencies have expressed clear concerns. Foreign routers are providing malicious actors with a “built-in backdoor to American homes, businesses, critical infrastructure, and emergency services.”

      Does this mean you have to replace your router?

      Not right away. The notice does not cover routers that are already in use, focusing solely on future router sales.

      Foreign routers that have received FCC authorization can continue to be sold. Manufacturers producing their devices overseas can apply for Conditional Approval, allowing them time to formulate a plan to transition manufacturing to the U.S.

      You can find the names of brands on the Covered List, as well as those that received Conditional Approval, on the FCC's website. Popular brands like TP-Link, which have been under investigation by the U.S. government, will need to either relocate their manufacturing or seek exemptions to keep selling new models in the U.S.

      This is a major decision that is likely to change the router market landscape. Whether this leads to improved security for everyday users remains to be seen, but it's clear that the era of inexpensive foreign-made routers in American homes might be nearing its conclusion.