Trump Order Restricts Foreign Power-Grid Equipment Over Security Risks
Summary
Executive Order 14420 restricts certain foreign-produced equipment for the U.S. bulk-power system, citing risks including backdoors and sabotage. The Energy Department may also require security controls for some equipment already installed.
Key points
- The order covers bulk-power transmission infrastructure rated at 69 kV or higher, but excludes local electricity distribution facilities.
- Covered technologies include transformers, inverters, energy storage, industrial control systems, and associated firmware, software, and remote-access capabilities.
- After August 26, 2026, certain acquisitions, imports, transfers, or installations involving designated entities are prohibited if they pose specified security or supply-disruption risks.
- For equipment already installed, the Energy Department can require operators to identify, monitor, isolate, secure, disconnect, or replace components, with service continuity and safety in view.
- The order does not name a country. The article says its structure resembles a 2020 order that led to a China-focused prohibition later revoked after a Biden administration review.
Article Details
- Event Type
- Executive order declaring a national emergency and restricting certain foreign-produced bulk-power system equipment
- Impact
- The order prohibits qualifying acquisitions, imports, transfers, or installations initiated after August 26, 2026, when designated entities or equipment deemed to pose risks such as sabotage, unauthorized access, malicious remote operation, or supply disruption are involved. The Energy Department may also require security controls or isolation, monitoring, disconnection, or replacement of certain components already installed, with measures intended to preserve service continuity and safety.
Countries
Chinabulk-power order that led to a DOE prohibition order explicitly targeting entities associated with China — though that prohibition was later revoked following a Biden administration review.United StatesPresident Trump issued Executive Order 14420 on Wednesday, declaring a national emergency to mitigate vulnerabilities in the United States’ bulk power system arising from foreign-supplied electrical equipment.