Trump Declares National Emergency to Protect U.S. Power Grid From Foreign Cyber Threats

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday declaring a national emergency aimed at protecting the U.S. bulk-power system from foreign-made equipment that the White House says could expose America’s electric grid to cyber intrusion, sabotage, or supply-chain disruption.

The order, issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the National Emergencies Act, targets certain foreign-produced bulk-power system electric equipment, including related software, firmware, remote-access tools, and digital capabilities that could pose cybersecurity or operational risks. The White House said the action is designed to protect the “security, integrity, and reliability” of the equipment used to power the nation’s defense systems, emergency services, critical infrastructure, and economy.

In the order, Trump said foreign actors are “increasingly creating and exploiting vulnerabilities” in the U.S. power system, warning that the threat has grown more acute as artificial intelligence, data centers, advanced manufacturing, and defense production increase America’s dependence on reliable electricity. The order specifically raises concern that some foreign-produced equipment could contain digital backdoors allowing remote access by a foreign government.

The directive generally bars the acquisition, importation, transfer, or installation of certain foreign-produced equipment when the Energy Secretary determines it poses an unacceptable risk to national security or critical infrastructure. It also directs the Energy Department, in consultation with defense, intelligence, homeland security, commerce, and other officials, to identify risky equipment already tied to the grid and recommend ways to inventory, isolate, monitor, or replace it.

Reuters reported that the order follows growing concern over foreign-made power components, including Chinese-made inverters, after U.S. experts previously found undocumented communication devices in some solar inverters connected to electric grids.

The move continues a broader Trump administration effort to treat the power grid not merely as an energy issue, but as a national security front line. Earlier this year, the White House said America’s aging and constrained grid infrastructure posed an increasing threat to national defense, citing limited domestic capacity to produce transformers, transmission components, advanced conductors, substations, and related equipment.

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