Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure

The Federal Communications Commission is moving to expand its national‑security 'covered list' in a way that will effectively block new foreign‑manufactured internet routers from being authorized for sale in the United States unless they clear a stringent security review. Under the order, future routers must either be built in the U.S. or pass scrutiny of their ownership, supply chains and software control, a shift that largely targets Chinese‑origin equipment in a market where most home routers rely heavily on Chinese manufacturing and engineering. The FCC cites cases in which foreign‑made routers were exploited by 'malicious actors' to attack American households, enable espionage and steal intellectual property, including the Justice Department’s 2023 disruption of hundreds of compromised U.S. routers hijacked by Chinese state‑backed hackers known as Volt Typhoon to mask critical‑infrastructure attacks. A Fox News Digital supply‑chain review highlighted that even brands marketed as American or made in countries like Vietnam often rely on Chinese‑owned factories and engineering teams, raising questions about how quickly manufacturers can genuinely de‑risk their products. The move fits a broader Washington shift toward treating consumer networking gear as critical infrastructure and is already fueling debate online over whether the U.S. can realistically unwind its dependence on China‑linked hardware without driving up prices or creating router shortages.