On August 26, 2026, President Trump issued an executive order on “Declaring a National Emergency to Secure the United States Bulk-Power System.”
Executive Order 14421 declares a national emergency to protect the U.S. bulk-power system from security threats associated with foreign-supplied electrical equipment and technology. The order cites risks such as digital backdoors, malicious remote access, cyber exploitation, and supply chain vulnerabilities, amplified by the growing energy demands of artificial intelligence, data centers, and advanced manufacturing. The order authorizes the U.S. Secretary of Energy to prohibit certain acquisitions, imports, transfers, or installations of foreign-produced bulk-power system electric equipment initiated after August 26, 2026, when the Secretary makes the findings required by the order, including that the equipment has a Covered Foreign Entity nexus and presents an undue or unacceptable national-security risk.
The executive order authorizes the U.S. Secretary of Energy, in consultation with key interagency officials, to enforce these restrictions, establish pre-qualified equipment and vendors, design mitigation measures, and impose requirements (including isolation, monitoring, or removal) on existing foreign equipment installed prior to the order. The order directs DOE to publish rules or regulations implementing the delegated authorities within 120 days, as needed. It also requires DOE to develop and submit recommended Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) revisions within 180 days, after which the FAR Council has 90 days to consider proposing amendments for notice and comment.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is actively engaging with utilities, states, equipment manufacturers, and industry partners to gather input, ensure clear guidance, and provide a predictable path forward for both existing equipment and future transactions.
The department issued a request for information (RFI) seeking input on approaches to enhance the security and resilience of the nation’s bulk-power system. The RFI supports DOE’s efforts to implement the recent executive order and invites industry and other stakeholders to provide insights that will strengthen critical energy infrastructure.
DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) aims to gather detailed comments on the challenges, opportunities, and practical considerations involved in mitigating supply chain vulnerabilities, improving situational awareness, and reducing national security risks.
About the Bulk-Power System Executive Order
The executive order puts America’s energy security first by protecting the bulk-power system against national security risks and foreign-adversary threats. DOE will move quickly to execute the executive order and issue implementing rules within 120 days. DOE will actively engage with utilities, states, equipment manufacturers, and industry partners to gather input, ensure clear guidance, and provide a predictable path forward for both existing equipment and future transactions. Additionally, the executive order covers facilities and control systems necessary for operating an interconnected transmission network and electric energy from generation facilities needed for reliability. This includes 69 kilovolts and higher transmission lines and excludes local distribution.
This targeted approach focuses on high-risk equipment and transactions that pose genuine national security risks without imposing blanket bans, sacrificing grid reliability, creating unnecessary red tape, and burdening hardworking American families and businesses with the costs.