Trump Declares National Emergency to Secure US Power Grid From Foreign Equipment

President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, declaring a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and National Emergencies Act over what the White House called an 'unusual and extraordinary foreign threat' to America's bulk-power system. The order lets federal agencies block or condition the purchase, importation, transfer, or installation of foreign-produced grid equipment — transformers, generators, battery storage, grid-connected inverters, turbines, and industrial control systems and software — found to pose cybersecurity or sabotage risks, including potential backdoors enabling remote access to critical infrastructure. The Energy Department was directed to issue implementing rules identifying at-risk equipment before the end of 2026; the order excludes local electricity distribution facilities, focusing solely on the bulk-power system.