The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established a new Council for National Security to coordinate and strengthen the agency’s efforts against foreign adversaries, with a particular focus on threats from China.
“The Council will leverage the full range of the Commission’s regulatory, investigatory, and enforcement authorities to promote America’s national security and counter foreign adversaries, particularly the threats posed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Chinese Communist Party (CCP),” FCC said in a statement.
The council’s formation comes just two months after the Trump administration disbanded several cybersecurity advisory bodies, including the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB) of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) that had been investigating the China-linked hacking group Salt Typhoon, signaling a significant reorganization of federal cybersecurity oversight.
The new council represents a critical expansion of the FCC’s national security posture and will draw representatives from eight different bureaus and offices within the commission to address cross-sector threats in telecommunications and technology.
“Today, the country faces a persistent and constant threat from foreign adversaries, particularly the CCP,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said in a statement announcing the initiative. “These bad actors are always exploring ways to breach our networks, devices, and technology ecosystem. It is more important than ever that the FCC remain vigilant and protect Americans and American companies from these threats.”
Filling a governance gap
The move comes amid a broader restructuring of federal cybersecurity governance. In January, the acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman dismissed all members of the CSRB, which had been created by the Biden administration. The AI Safety and Security Board and the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee were also affected by the Trump administration’s effort to “clamp down on the misuse of resources” and rationalize Homeland Security operations.
The FCC’s new council appears positioned to assume some responsibilities previously distributed across these disbanded bodies, particularly regarding telecommunications security. Adam Chan, a national security lawyer, will serve as the council’s first director, the statement added.
The timing is particularly notable as the CSRB had been actively investigating Salt Typhoon’s infiltration of US telecommunication networks when it was disbanded. These sophisticated operations highlighted vulnerabilities in the communications supply chain that the new FCC council will likely address.
Three-pronged strategy
The council will pursue a tripartite strategy focusing on reducing dependency, mitigating vulnerabilities, and ensuring American technological leadership.
First, it aims to reduce American technology and telecommunications sectors’ trade and supply chain dependencies on foreign adversaries. This goal aligns with broader government efforts to “friend-shore” critical technology supply chains and decrease reliance on potentially hostile nations for essential components and technologies.
Second, the council will work to mitigate the US’ vulnerabilities to cyberattacks, espionage, and surveillance by foreign adversaries. This reflects growing concerns about foreign-controlled technologies and applications that could potentially collect sensitive data or compromise critical infrastructure.
Third, the initiative seeks to ensure US leadership in strategic technology competition with China, specifically mentioning 5G and 6G communications, AI, satellite and space technologies, quantum computing, robotics and autonomous systems, and the Internet of Things.
Shifting cybersecurity architecture
The council’s cross-agency structure suggests the FCC recognizes that modern communications security challenges require coordinated approaches that transcend traditional regulatory silos. Representatives from eight different bureaus and offices will foster internal collaboration while also facilitating engagement with external partners.
“The Council will facilitate the Chairman’s ability to implement a comprehensive national security agenda and facilitate the Commission’s engagement with national security partners across the Executive Branch and in Congress,” the announcement stated.
This enhanced coordination comes as part of a broader reorganization of federal cybersecurity responsibilities. The CSRB had previously investigated high-profile cyber incidents including attacks by the Lapsus$ hacking group and the 2023 Microsoft Exchange Online breach before its dismissal in January.
Industry implications
For telecommunications and technology companies, the council’s formation likely signals continued or potentially increased regulatory scrutiny of supply chains, foreign partnerships, and security practices. Enterprises that rely on telecommunications infrastructure should anticipate that the FCC may take a more active role in evaluating the security implications of certain technologies and services.
The establishment of the council also suggests that national security considerations may play an increasingly important role in future FCC decisions regarding spectrum allocation, equipment authorizations, and market access – all critical factors for technology companies planning future investments and product development.
As tensions with China continue and technology becomes increasingly central to national security, this institutional change at the FCC reflects the Trump administration’s approach to addressing complex, cross-cutting security challenges in an interconnected digital ecosystem while consolidating oversight functions across federal agencies.