President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday declaring a national emergency and barring the purchase or installation of certain foreign-produced bulk-power system equipment in the U.S. grid, citing cybersecurity and national security risks.
The order specifically targets foreign-made electric equipment, including associated software and digital capabilities, that could pose operational or cyber threats to the electricity infrastructure. It directs the U.S. Energy Secretary to impose conditions on the continued use and operation of such equipment already in place, aiming to mitigate vulnerabilities identified by the administration.
The move follows prior findings by U.S. experts who, while inspecting equipment connected to grids, discovered rogue communication devices not documented in product specifications in some Chinese-made solar power inverters. The administration has framed the threat as emanating from foreign supply chains, particularly those linked to China.
The order comes amid broader efforts to address technology-related risks in critical infrastructure. Earlier this year, the European Commission banned Chinese-made inverters from publicly funded energy projects in the bloc. The Trump administration has not specified a timeline for implementation but has emphasized the need to safeguard national security and economic stability.
The declaration of a national emergency underscores the administration’s assessment that the foreign supply of bulk-power equipment constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat with origins outside the United States.
