President Donald Trump issued an emergency executive order banning the acquisition, importation, transfer, or installation of foreign-produced electrical grid equipment from designated foreign countries, according to a legal analysis published by law firm Norton Rose Fulbright.
A newly issued executive order by President Donald Trump restricts foreign-made electrical infrastructure across the United States bulk-power system, taking direct aim at equipment connected to entities in 24 embargoed nations. The action targets high-voltage hardware including transformers, utility-scale inverters, circuit breakers, energy storage systems, and industrial control electronics, citing concerns over potential remote access, cyber vulnerabilities, and grid disruption.
While the executive order technically applies to transactions initiated after Aug. 26, 2026, Norton Rose Fulbright noted in its analysis that equipment is not formally barred until the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) evaluates specific vendors and issues official risk determinations.
The DOE has 120 days (until Dec. 24, 2026) to publish formal rules implementing the policy. However, the agency is instructed to make recommendations to the National Security Council to isolate, monitor, or replace sensitive infrastructure as soon as practicable.
