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.