State of Emergency in the U.S.: Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency and prohibiting the use of certain foreign-made equipment in the electrical grid. The decision is justified in the document published by the White House, citing external threats to the U.S. energy system.

The ban applies to equipment, software, and digital components with vulnerabilities that could be exploited for cyberattacks, diversions, or disruptions to critical infrastructure operations. High-voltage transformers, solar and battery system inverters, generators, industrial control systems, and their related software could fall under this restriction.

The U.S. Secretary of Energy has also been tasked with developing terms for the continued operation of foreign equipment already in use to eliminate potential vulnerabilities.

Reuters notes that this move is part of Washington's ongoing efforts to combat technological threats from China. Last year, undocumented connections were found in certain solar inverters manufactured in China.

Currently, there are over 50 executive orders related to the state of emergency in the U.S., particularly concerning threats from cyberattacks, the illegal trafficking of international drugs, and illegal immigration.