What They Are Saying: Stakeholders Applaud the FCC for Adding Foreign-Produced Power Inverters and Robots to Covered List FCC Action Follows Determinations by Executive Branch Agencies That These Devices Threaten National Security      WASHINGTON, July 30, 2026—On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission updated its Covered List to include two new categories of devices—“advanced robotic devices” (defined as mobile robots, such as humanoids and quadrupeds) and, separately, connected power inverters produced in foreign countries. The action follows determinations, for both robots and inverters, by a White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body with appropriate national security expertise, which determined that these foreign-made products, regardless of the nationality of origin, “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons.” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said: “I welcome these Executive Branch national security determinations, and I am pleased that the FCC has now added foreign produced advanced robotics and power inverters to the FCC’s Covered List.” Following President Trump’s leadership, the FCC continues to do its part to secure America’s critical supply chains and is acting in lock step with our national security agencies to do just that. Stakeholders across the board are applauding the action. What they are saying:  Senator Jim Banks: “Advanced robotics and power inverters are essential to reindustrialization and our critical infrastructure. Once again, Chairman Carr is leading from the front to protect our national security.” Senator Tom Cotton, Chair of the National Intelligence Committee: “America can’t allow our adversaries to establish a foothold in our homes, law enforcement agencies, and broader robotics industry.” Senator Dave McCormick: “Protecting America’s national security starts with securing the technology we allow into our country. Good move.” Senator Jim Risch, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: “Thanks to Chairman Carr and the Administration for their consistent work on this issue.” Representative John Moolenaar, Chairman Select Committee on China: “The FCC’s action today protects our country and strengthens our nation’s robotics industry.” Representative Elise Stefanik, House Republican Conference Chair: “This is incredibly important for unleashing U.S. reindustrialization and technological investment and advancement to propel the great American century.” Alliance for American Manufacturing: “It makes no sense to depend on a foreign adversary for the technology that permeates our lives and our nation’s security. The FCC’s action comes as the United States enters an era of rapid technology evolution, a time our nation must leverage to grow secure robotics and artificial intelligence supply chains right here at home.” Scott Paul, President American Compass: “We can, in fact, just say no to threats to our national security and industrial strength. Chairman Carr and the FCC should be commended for doing exactly that. America cannot reindustrialize or win the race for technological dominance without advanced robotics and connected inverters. Protecting ourselves from vulnerabilities on those fronts is common sense.” Chris Griswold, Policy Director America First Policy Institute: “No foreign-produced 'advanced robotic devices' or 'connected power inverters' should enter American markets without meeting the highest security standards. The latter are often overlooked, but a hostile actor could exploit them and create havoc with our power grids—concerns that were heightened when certain imported solar inverters contained undocumented communication devices that could potentially be turned against us. The FCC's action closes a critical gap in our supply chain security.” Piero Tozzi, Senior Director for China Policy Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI): “AUVSI applauds the strong action by the FCC for confronting the national and economic security risks that adversarial threats in advanced robotics pose to the United States…. It is essential that the United States continues to be the global leader of innovation in advanced robotics to build a resilient industrial economy and to protect our national security for decades to come.” Michael Robbins, President and CEO Boston Dynamics: “After months of increasing calls from industry and Washington thought-leaders for U.S. government policy action on advanced mobile robotics, including four Congressional hearings in the past five months, the Federal Communications Commission delivered today. Taking bold leadership action as the first federal agency to promulgate an impactful policy in support of the domestic robotics industry and national security, the FCC has added foreign-produced advanced robotic devices to the list of technologies that are ineligible for FCC approval, and therefore essentially banned from the US market.” Brendan Schulman, Vice President of Policy and Government Relations Bull Moose Project: “The speed and efficiency of the FCC under Chairman Carr is incredible. The FCC should be the model for other agencies going forward. They’re proactively tackling issues we need to restore American sovereignty, from spectrum to robotics and beyond.” Aiden Buzzetti, President Coalition for a Prosperous America: “Chairman Brendan Carr deserves tremendous credit for his decisive leadership in protecting America’s critical infrastructure from the security risks posed by foreign-produced technology. The United States cannot afford to rely on power inverters and advanced robotic systems that could be remotely accessed, disrupted, or exploited by hostile actors and adversarial nations. “This action should also help accelerate American manufacturing of these critical technologies, strengthen our industrial base, create high-quality jobs, and ensure that essential equipment is produced by trusted manufacturers operating under U.S. security standards. CPA applauds Chairman Carr and President Trump for putting America’s economic and national security first.” Jon Toomey, CEO Digital Progress Institute: “DPI welcomes the FCC’s addition of foreign-produced advanced robotics and power inverters to the Covered List.  Remote connectivity and foreign control over networked hardware create the same supply chain and cybersecurity exposure that justified prior Covered List actions on routers and UAS components. Extending that logic to robotics and grid-connected inverters is a straightforward application of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act. “The Conditional Approval mechanism is the appropriate, incremental approach to target these types of risk, while not inhibiting innovation and avoiding any disruption to existing consumer devices or federal procurement.” Joel Thayer, President  Rush Doshi, C.V. Starr Senior Fellow Council on Foreign Relations*: “This is one of the most significant actions taken so far in support of the U.S. robotics ecosystem. The FCC’s drone action was a shot in the arm for the domestic drone industry, and I think this has that same potential in robotics.” Enphase Energy: “Enphase was founded and is headquartered in the United States, with manufacturing in South Carolina and Texas. The inverter is the brain of the modern grid, and Americans deserve to know theirs can be trusted. We applaud the FCC and the Administration for advancing American energy dominance, protecting our critical infrastructure, and strengthening a resilient domestic supply chain.” Raghu Belur, Co-Founder and Chief Products Officer Foundation for Defense of Democracies: “Today’s action closes a dangerous gap in America’s technology defenses. Connected robots can collect sensitive data, map facilities, and potentially be manipulated remotely, while foreign-made inverters could create hidden vulnerabilities across the power systems supporting our grid, factories, and data centers. The FCC is right to act before these dependencies become deeply embedded in critical infrastructure.” Craig Singleton, China Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow Hadrian: “Hadrian supports Chairman Brendan Carr and the FCC’s decision to add foreign-produced advanced robotic devices and power inverters to the Covered List. This action addresses unacceptable risks these networked systems pose to U.S. critical infrastructure, economic security, and the safety of the American public. Advanced robots and power inverters are foundational to modern manufacturing, energy systems, and automation. Leaving new foreign-produced models unrestricted would expose supply chains and operational environments to cyber vulnerabilities, data risks, and disruption. “We welcome policies that secure America’s critical technology supply chains and accelerate Reindustrialization. Reliable, trusted hardware is essential to U.S. leadership in advanced manufacturing. The FCC’s latest move advances that goal and helps ensure the next generation of American industry is built on resilient, secure foundations.” Chris Power, CEO David Feith and Michael Sobolik, Hudson Institute* Senior Fellows: “The American people need technology they can trust. For innovations as transformative as robotics, American consumers are right to expect a market that offers safe options that improve daily life and secure data, not imperil them. The same goes for components in critical infrastructure, like power inverters. The data centers and power grid that enable the nation's AI build-out should rely on trusted, secure technology. The FCC should be commended for taking steps to protect Americans from national security risks.” Foundation for American Innovation: “Robots capable of high-autonomy mobile manipulation carry substantial security risks. Connected high-autonomy robots are vulnerable not just to data exfiltration, but also to remote control attacks that could disable or even commandeer them. As these systems improve, continuing to import them means knowingly importing and deploying compromised technology in American homes and factories. The National Security Determination on advanced robotics and associated update to the FCC covered list creates the opportunity for U.S. manufacturers to produce secure robot systems domestically.” Emerson Alden, Research Fellow New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA): “NAIA supports the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) broadening of the covered list to include advanced robotics devices and connected power inverters as prohibited categories. It's critical to protect our supply chains from foreign interference and this expansion will continue that effort. We thank the FCC for their leadership.” Solar Edge: “SolarEdge welcomes the FCC’s focus on strengthening our national security and addressing cybersecurity risks. SolarEdge has made significant investments in U.S. manufacturing, helping to create more than 2,500 American jobs. We look forward to working with the Commission, providing input as this policy is implemented, and helping to ensure that the technologies connected to America’s electric grid are secure, trusted, and resilient.” Evan Beard, Standard Bots CEO: “This is one of the strongest technology-security actions in modern U.S. history. The message is unambiguous: robotics is a technology America must lead and own — and foreign-subsidized robots will not be allowed to unfairly dominate U.S. robotics as they did solar.” TMEIC Corporation Americas: “TMEIC Corporation Americas welcomes the FCC’s efforts to strengthen the security and resilience of the U.S. electric grid, which underpins the nation's economic and national security interests. As electricity demand continues to grow, it is essential to advance both robust security protections and reliable access to the technologies that support grid stability. TMEIC is committed to being a trusted partner in delivering secure, high-performance solutions that help meet these objectives.” Andy Fioramonti, Sr. Vice President, Energy & Infrastructure Solutions *Affiliation provided for name-identification purposes only. ### Media Contact: MediaRelations@fcc.gov / (202) 418-0500 @FCC / www.fcc.gov