Donald Trump declares national emergency to ban foreign equipment from US electricity grid

Executive order on grid hardware

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday declaring a national emergency to protect the domestic electricity grid from foreign equipment. The decree prohibits US utilities and companies from acquiring, importing, or installing bulk-power system equipment, critical software, and digital capabilities produced by foreign adversaries. The White House stated that the measure addresses an unusual and extraordinary threat to national security, foreign policy, and the economy. Federal authorities stated that foreign-produced hardware in generation and transmission facilities could contain technical backdoors allowing hostile governments to remotely control or shut down portions of the energy system.

I hereby declare a national emergency with respect to this threat.

Implementation and operational mandates

The presidential order directs the US Energy Secretary to establish strict conditions for the continued operation of foreign equipment that has already been installed across the transmission network. Federal agencies must audit current electrical infrastructure, evaluate vulnerabilities in energy supply chains, and determine rules for existing hardware. The restrictions specifically target equipment originating from nations subject to US arms embargoes or sanctions. The White House explicitly linked the emergency declaration to the expansion of the domestic artificial intelligence sector and growing defense manufacturing. Both sectors require substantial electricity supplies, making reliable and secure transmission infrastructure essential for continuous operation.

Beijing response and cyber actions

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jin responded to the White House executive order during a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday, criticizing Washington for using security concerns to restrict commerce. Lin stated that Beijing opposes discriminatory policies and called on the United States to provide an open environment for international businesses.

China has always opposed generalising the concept of national security and suppressing companies of other countries.

On the same day Trump issued the energy decree, the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation seized multiple internet domains used by a China-based, state-supported hacking group. Authorities stated that the group used the domains as operational platforms to conduct cyber intrusions against critical infrastructure and government bodies, including the Federal Reserve, NASA, the Senate, and federal ministries.

Sector scrutiny and broader trade curbs

The electricity grid directive follows previous Western investigations into hardware manufactured in China. Earlier this year, the European Commission excluded Chinese-manufactured solar inverters from publicly funded energy initiatives. That decision followed tests by US technical experts who dismantled grid-connected solar inverters and discovered undeclared communication components capable of transmitting data. The energy order also aligns with wider trade and security actions taken by Washington in August. Earlier in the month, the US government announced tariffs of up to 100% on foreign drones, scheduled to take effect on 3 September. The power grid ban mirrors prior federal measures that prohibited Chinese telecommunications suppliers Huawei and ZTE from participating in US wireless network infrastructure.