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Consumers have become accustomed to all sorts of labels and seals of approval on products in the shopping process, from the Energy Star to sustainability standards. Next up, shoppers should prepare for a hacking-safe seal of approval in the works for home gadgets and appliances coming from the federal government.

Last July, the Biden administration and the Federal Communications Commission proposed the creation of the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program, a voluntary cybersecurity product-labeling initiative to help consumers choose internet-connected devices that are certified by manufacturers as safe from hackers, scammers and other cyber criminals.

The final details are still to be determined, but as proposed, the program will require participating manufacturers of smart, internet of things (IoT) devices — including doorbell cameras, voice-activated speakers, baby monitors, TVs, kitchen appliances, thermostats and fitness trackers — to meet a series of cybersecurity standards developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). That includes unique passwords, data protection, software patches and updates, and incident detection capabilities.

Not included in the program, as it now stands, are smartphones, personal computers, routers and certain internet-connected medical devices, such as smart thermometers and CPAP machines, which are protected by Federal Drug Administration regulations. Also excluded are motor vehicles and the data stored in them, which are overseen by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and where data privacy concerns have been rising.

The program will rely on public-private collaboration, with the FTC providing oversight and enforcement, and approved third-party label administrators managing activities such as evaluating product applications, authorizing use of the label and consumer education. Compliance testing will be handled by accredited labs.

Packaging for products that meet the criteria will carry a U.S. Cyber Trust Mark shield logo emblazoned with a QR code that consumers can scan on a smartphone to receive detailed, up-to-date security information about that particular device. “Just like the Energy Star logo helps consumers know what devices are energy efficient, the Cyber Trust Mark will help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions about device privacy and security,” said FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

To date, Amazon, Best Buy, Google, LG Electronics U.S.A., Logitech and Samsung Electronics have committed to the program, though none of those companies has yet to use the symbol.

Holiday season labeling is goal, but an unlikely one

In March, the FCC voted to approve the program, aiming to launch it later this year. During a cybersecurity panel discussion in May at Auburn University’s McCrary Institute in Washington, Nicholas Leiserson, the White House’s assistant national cyber director for cyber policy and programs, said, “You should hopefully, by the holiday season, start to see devices that have this [Cyber Trust Mark] on it.”

Despite the administration’s best intentions, however, consumers shouldn’t expect to see products bearing the symbol until early next year, at the soonest. In an email asking about the timeline for the launch, an FCC spokesperson did not provide any specific dates.

“We are now in the process of standing up this comprehensive program as quickly as possible,” the spokesperson said. “It is currently undergoing the standard intergovernmental review process that is required for new rules of this sort. Once that process is complete, we will communicate publicly about next steps.”

In the meantime, manufacturers are also awaiting definitive rules, said David Grossman, vice president of policy and regulatory affairs for the Consumer Technology Association, which represents more than 1,000 tech companies. “Once a manufacturer receives certification for the Trust Mark, they will need additional time to retool their packaging, as well as shipping updated products from the manufacturer to retailers,” he said.

70 million U.S. homes actively using smart devices

While the program’s particulars are being hammered out, it’s worth looking at why consumers need the protection it will provide. In 2024, according to research firm Statista, nearly 70 million homes in the U.S. are actively using smart devices, up more than 10% from last year. That number is expected to reach 100 million homes by 2028. What’s more, the average U.S. household contains around 25 connected devices.

Many of those devices, as well as the Wi-Fi networks and routers that connect them, lack adequate security safeguards. A 2023 study by research firm Park Associates found that nearly 75% of U.S. households with internet service were concerned about the security of their personal data, while 54% reported experiencing a data privacy or security issue in the past 12 months, an increase of 50% over five years.

Staffers from Consumer Reports attended a White House meeting during which the Cyber Trust Mark program was announced. The organization subsequently conducted an American Experiences Survey that included questions about the program and the types of data-protection information consumers would like to have before purchasing a smart device.

About two-thirds of those polled (69%) said that it is very important to have information about who the collected data is shared with or sold to, and 92% said that such information is either very or somewhat important. Three out of four respondents said that it is the responsibility of the manufacturers of those devices to provide privacy and security information to consumers, while only 8% said the government is responsible.

“It is incredibly important to make a consumer-legible standard for IoT devices, because right now it is totally a Wild West,” said Stacey Higginbotham, a cybersecurity expert and writer for Consumer Reports. “Consumers really care about having this kind of information, so that’s why we need the program.”

Higginbotham cited the breadth of the proposed program for requiring more stringent levels of cybersecurity, not only for devices themselves, but also the internet services that connect them and the cloud networks where personal data is stored. She was glad, too, that it includes a guaranteed support timeframe, stipulating the number of years that a product maker will continue to provide software security updates and patches.

A voluntary program is business reality

One criticism is that the program is voluntary for manufacturers. “I would love to see this as a mandatory program,” Higginbotham said, “but the reality in the U.S. is that it will have to be a voluntary program,” she added, referring to the business community’s frequent pushback against government-mandated regulations.

“If you’re going to participate, you’re going to have to meet the requirements the FCC has established. Device manufacturers don’t want the agency dictating things such as the size of the Cyber Trust Mark on packaging or where exactly it has to be displayed,” Grossman said. “You want something that’s easily recognizable to consumers, but you also want to ensure manufacturers have flexibility.”

Grossman said that means companies may shy away from making the commitment if the final proposal is too prescriptive. “If the requirements are too burdensome, I don’t think that companies are going to be as eager to step up to the plate and participate,” he said.

Barry Mainz, CEO of Forescout Technologies, a cybersecurity provider, says he is a big fan of the Cyber Trust Mark. “It’s a good step in the right direction to making it a little bit more complicated to get into these devices,” he said. Nonetheless, he worries about the millions of IoT devices in people’s homes today that are vulnerable to cyberattacks and can’t retroactively get a label. “What responsibility do the companies creating these devices have?” he said. Some of the more popular products, like smart TVs and door locks, could be voluntarily upgraded by their manufacturers to prevent hacking as a goodwill measure, Mainz said, “so that people that couldn’t afford to go out and buy new things could ensure that they were safe.”

Steps to take now to protect your home internet

There are actions consumers can take right now, before the Cyber Trust Mark program kicks in, to harden their cybersecurity. Perhaps the most important component to focus on are the routers that wirelessly interconnect devices. They ship from manufacturers with a default password, which a hacker could change in order to spy on you or access files on a network-attached hard drive. Immediately create your own strong and unique password, not only for the router but also for each of the connected devices, and use two-factor authentication if available. If you have a guest network on the router, set it up with a separate password. Also be sure the router’s software is current, usually by activating the automatic update feature, though you can check the manufacturer’s website for patches that can be downloaded and installed.

Of course, you could take the Luddite approach and simply avoid all of this IoT technology and devices. But for the millions of consumers who embrace the smart home, the Cyber Trust Mark — once it’s in place — should provide a heightened measure of cybersecurity and keep them one step ahead, or at least in the race, with the bad guys.

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Trump aims to cut $6 billion from NASA budget, shifting $1 billion to Mars-focused missions

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Trump aims to cut  billion from NASA budget, shifting  billion to Mars-focused missions

The Trump administration has floated a plan to trim about $6 billion from the budget of NASA, while allocating $1 billion of remaining funds to Mars-focused initiatives, aligning with an ambition long held by Elon Musk and his rocket maker SpaceX.

A copy of the discretionary budget posted to the NASA website on Friday said that the change focuses NASA’s funding on “beating China back to the Moon and on putting the first human on Mars.”

NASA also said it will need to “streamline” its workforce, information technology services, NASA Center operations, facility maintenance, and construction and environmental compliance activities, and terminate multiple “unaffordable” missions, while reducing scientific missions for the sake of “fiscal responsibility.”

Janet Petro, NASA’s acting administrator, said in an agency-wide email on Friday that the proposed lean budget, which would cut about 25% of the space agency’s funding, “reflects the administration’s support for our mission and sets the stage for our next great achievements.”

Petro urged NASA employees to “persevere, stay resilient, and lean into the discipline it takes to do things that have never been done before — especially in a constrained environment,” according to the memo, which was obtained by CNBC. She acknowledged the budget would “require tough choices,” and that some of NASA’s “activities will wind down.”

The document on NASA’s website said it’s allocating more than $7 billion for moon exploration and “introducing $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs.”

SpaceX, which is already among the largest NASA and Department of Defense contractors, has long sought to launch a manned mission to Mars. The company says on its website that its massive Starship rocket is designed to “carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond.”

Musk, who is the founder and CEO of SpaceX, has a central role in President Donald Trump’s administration, leading an effort to slash the size, spending and capacity of the federal government, and influencing regulatory changes through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Musk, who frequently makes aggressive and incorrect projections for his companies, said in 2020 that he was “highly confident” that SpaceX would land humans on Mars by 2026.

Petro highlighted in her memo that under the discretionary budget, NASA would retire the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, the Orion spacecraft and Gateway programs.

It would also put an end to its green aviation spending and to its Mars Sample Return (MSR) Program, which sought to use rockets and robotic systems to “collect and send samples of Martian rocks, soils and atmosphere back to Earth for detailed chemical and physical analysis,” according to a website for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Some of the biggest reductions at NASA, should the budget get approved, would hit the space agency’s space science, Earth science and mission support divisions.

Petro didn’t name any specific aerospace and defense contractors in her agency-wide email. However SpaceX, ULA and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin are positioned to continue to conduct launches in the absence of the SLS. Boeing is currently the prime contractor leading the SLS program.

“This is far from the first time NASA has been asked to adapt, and your ability to deliver, even under pressure, is what sets NASA apart,” she wrote.

President Trump’s nominee to lead NASA, tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, still has to be approved by the U.S. Senate. His nomination was advanced out of the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday.

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Temu halts shipping direct from China as de minimis tariff loophole is cut off

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Temu halts shipping direct from China as de minimis tariff loophole is cut off

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images

Chinese bargain retailer Temu changed its business model in the U.S. as the Trump administration’s new rules on low-value shipments took effect Friday.

In recent days, Temu has abruptly shifted its website and app to only display listings for products shipped from U.S.-based warehouses. Items shipped directly from China, which previously blanketed the site, are now labeled as out of stock.

Temu made a name for itself in the U.S. as a destination for ultra-discounted items shipped direct from China, such as $5 sneakers and $1.50 garlic presses. It’s been able to keep prices low because of the so-called de minimis rule, which has allowed items worth $800 or less to enter the country duty-free since 2016.

The loophole expired Friday at 12:01 a.m. EDT as a result of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in April. Trump briefly suspended the de minimis rule in February before reinstating the provision days later as customs officials struggled to process and collect tariffs on a mountain of low-value packages.

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The end of de minimis, as well as Trump’s new 145% tariffs on China, has forced Temu to raise prices, suspend its aggressive online advertising push and now alter the selection of goods available to American shoppers to circumvent higher levies.

A Temu spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that all sales in the U.S. are now handled by local sellers and said they are fulfilled “from within the country.” Temu said pricing for U.S. shoppers “remains unchanged.”

“Temu has been actively recruiting U.S. sellers to join the platform,” the spokesperson said. “The move is designed to help local merchants reach more customers and grow their businesses.”

Before the change, shoppers who attempted to purchase Temu products shipped from China were confronted with “import charges” of between 130% and 150%. The fees often cost more than the individual item and more than doubled the price of many orders.

Temu advertises that local products have “no import charges” and “no extra charges upon delivery.”

The company, which is owned by Chinese e-commerce giant PDD Holdings, has gradually built up its inventory in the U.S. over the past year in anticipation of escalating trade tensions and the removal of de minimis.

Shein, which has also benefited from the loophole, moved to raise prices last week. The fast-fashion retailer added a banner at checkout that says, “Tariffs are included in the price you pay. You’ll never have to pay extra at delivery.”

Many third-party sellers on Amazon rely on Chinese manufacturers to source or assemble their products. The company’s Temu competitor, called Amazon Haul, has relied on de minimis to ship products priced at $20 or less directly from China to the U.S.

Amazon said Tuesday following a dustup with the White House that had it considered showing tariff-related costs on Haul products ahead of the de minimis cutoff but that it has since scrapped those plans.

Prior to Trump’s second term in office, the Biden administration had also looked to curtail the provision. Critics of the de minimis provision argue that it harms American businesses and that it facilitates shipments of fentanyl and other illicit substances because, they say, the packages are less likely to be inspected by customs agents.

— CNBC’s Gabrielle Fonrouge contributed to this report.

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Jeff Bezos discloses plan to sell up to $4.8 billion in Amazon stock

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Jeff Bezos discloses plan to sell up to .8 billion in Amazon stock

Jeff Bezos, founder and executive chairman of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, takes the stage during The New York Times’ annual DealBook Summit, at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, Dec. 4, 2024.

Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos plans to sell up to 25 million shares in the company over the next year, according to a financial filing on Friday.

Bezos, who stepped down as CEO in 2021 but remains Amazon’s top shareholder, is selling the shares as part of a trading plan adopted on March 4, the filing states. The stake would be worth about $4.8 billion at the current price.

The disclosure follows Amazon’s first-quarter earnings report late Thursday. While profit and revenue topped estimates, the company’s forecast for operating income in the current quarter came in below Wall Street’s expectations.

The results show that Amazon is bracing for uncertainty related to President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs. The company landed in the crosshairs of the White House this week over a report that Amazon planned to show shoppers the cost of the tariffs. Trump personally called Bezos to complain, and Amazon clarified that no such change was coming.

Bezos previously offloaded about $13.5 billion worth of Amazon shares last year, marking his first sale of company stock since 2021.

Since handing over the Amazon CEO role to Andy Jassy, Bezos has spent more of his time on his space exploration company, Blue Origin, and his $10 billion climate and biodiversity fund. He’s used Amazon share sales to help fund Blue Origin, as well as the Day One Fund, which he launched in September 2018 to provide education in low-income communities and combat homelessness.

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