US Bars All Foreign-Made Consumer Routers From Domestic Market
: Unfortunately, there aren't many options unless you're Starlink
US Bans Any New Consumer-Grade Routers Not Made in America
In a sweeping executive order signed Tuesday, the White House announced that all consumer-grade routers sold in the United States must be manufactured domestically, effective within 120 days. The order cites national security concerns over foreign-made networking equipment, pointing to vulnerabilities that could allow hostile nations to intercept data or disable critical communications infrastructure. The ban applies to all new retail sales, though existing routers already in homes and businesses will not need to be replaced immediately. Industry analysts say the move could dramatically reshape the home networking market virtually overnight.
The problem, experts say, is that the vast majority of consumer routers sold in the United States are manufactured overseas, primarily in China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Popular brands like TP-Link, Netgear, and ASUS rely almost entirely on foreign production lines, and even American-founded companies have long outsourced their manufacturing. Setting up domestic production capable of meeting consumer demand would take years and billions of dollars in investment, leaving a massive gap in the supply chain. Retailers are already bracing for empty shelves in the networking aisle as current inventory dwindles.
One company that finds itself in a uniquely advantageous position is SpaceX's Starlink division, which manufactures its routers at facilities in the United States. While Starlink's hardware is designed primarily to work with its satellite internet service, the company is one of the very few operations with an existing domestic production line for consumer networking equipment. Industry watchers have noted the irony that a satellite internet provider could become one of the only legal options for Americans shopping for a new router, though Starlink's equipment is not a direct substitute for traditional standalone routers.
Consumer advocacy groups and technology trade associations have pushed back sharply against the order, arguing that it will drive up prices, limit consumer choice, and do little to address the cybersecurity threats it claims to target. Several major networking companies have announced plans to explore domestic manufacturing partnerships, but concede that meaningful production is at least 18 to 24 months away. Meanwhile, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are debating whether Congress should intervene, with some calling for a longer transition period and others demanding the order be rescinded entirely. For now, American consumers face an uncertain future when it comes to one of the most essential devices in the modern home.