President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday restricting certain foreign-produced equipment, software and digital capabilities from the U.S. bulk-power system, citing cybersecurity and national security risks to the electric grid.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
President Donald Trump moved Wednesday to tighten federal controls over foreign-made technology used in the nation’s electricity infrastructure, signing an executive order that bars certain equipment from being purchased or installed in the United States.
The order declares a national emergency over what the White House described as “the unusual and extraordinary foreign threat” posed by foreign-produced components used in the U.S. bulk-power system.
According to the White House, the restrictions are aimed at equipment that could expose critical energy infrastructure to cybersecurity vulnerabilities, operational disruption or other national security risks.
The prohibition covers certain foreign-produced bulk-power system electrical equipment as well as related critical software and digital capabilities.
Under the order, equipment determined to present unacceptable risks would be prohibited from future purchase or installation in the United States.
The action also addresses foreign-made equipment that is already operating within the country’s electrical system.
Trump directed the U.S. Energy secretary to establish conditions governing the continued use and operation of equipment identified as potentially problematic.
Those conditions are intended to mitigate vulnerabilities identified by the administration rather than automatically requiring all existing foreign-made components to be removed.
The White House framed the order as a national security measure focused on protecting infrastructure essential to the functioning of the United States.
The bulk-power system includes major components involved in generating and transmitting electricity across large portions of the country, making disruptions to those systems potentially consequential for homes, businesses, government operations and other critical infrastructure.
The administration’s concern extends beyond physical electrical components to the software and digital systems associated with them.
Modern grid equipment can contain communications technology, remote-access capabilities and software that influence how electrical systems are monitored and operated. The executive order allows the government to restrict foreign-produced technologies when officials determine those capabilities could create cybersecurity or operational risks.
By declaring a national emergency, Trump is positioning the foreign equipment issue as a threat requiring federal intervention rather than solely a matter of commercial procurement.
The order does not impose a blanket prohibition on all equipment manufactured outside the United States.
Instead, it targets certain foreign-produced bulk-power equipment and associated technologies that the administration determines could threaten the security or reliable operation of the U.S. grid.
The Energy Department will now play a central role in implementing the policy, including determining what conditions should apply to equipment already in service and addressing vulnerabilities identified by federal officials.
Wednesday’s action effectively establishes two tracks for dealing with potentially risky foreign technology: preventing specified equipment from entering the U.S. power system in the future while imposing safeguards on certain equipment that is already installed.
The White House said the objective is to reduce foreign threats to one of the country’s most critical infrastructure networks and limit the possibility that equipment, software or digital capabilities produced abroad could be exploited to interfere with the operation of the American electricity system.
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