Feds Hunt Foreign Gear Sabotaging U.S. Power Grid?
Published Date: 9/9/2026
Notice
Summary
Consistent with the Executive order of August 26, 2026, Declaring a National Emergency to Secure the United States Bulk-Power System, the Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is seeking information from industry and other stakeholders to inform DOE actions to implement the Executive order. Specifically, DOE seeks information regarding the scope of covered equipment and transactions; risks associated with Covered Foreign Entities and foreign-produced bulk- power system electric equipment; supply chain, software, firmware, digital service, maintenance service, and remote-access practices; existing equipment and potential mitigation; licensing and prequalification; domestic manufacturing and secure replacement capacity; Federal procurement; and potential economic, reliability, safety, and small-entity impacts.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Prohibition on New Foreign-made Grid Equipment
The Executive Order (dated August 26, 2026) prohibits any acquisition, importation, transfer, or installation of foreign-produced bulk-power system electric equipment for transactions initiated after August 26, 2026 when the Secretary determines the transaction poses an undue or unacceptable risk. This prohibition explicitly covers equipment and associated critical components, software, firmware, digital services, maintenance services, or remote-access capabilities tied to Covered Foreign Entities.
Conditions on Existing Foreign Equipment Use
For equipment acquired or installed before August 26, 2026, the Secretary may impose conditions on continued use, operation, maintenance, servicing, or updating, including requirements to identify, isolate, monitor, secure, disconnect, replace, or remove equipment. Before directing isolation, disconnection, replacement, or removal, the Secretary must consider effects on reliability, safety, availability of secure replacements, and continuity of essential service and may establish phased compliance.
Licensing, Mitigation, and Prequalification Authority
The Secretary may negotiate or design mitigation measures, issue licenses or regulations that authorize otherwise prohibited conduct, and establish criteria and procedures to prequalify particular equipment and vendors for future transactions. Transactions intended to evade prohibitions (including conspiracies) are expressly prohibited under the Executive Order.
Federal Procurement Prioritizes U.S. Manufacturing
Within 180 days of the August 26, 2026 Executive Order, the Secretary must develop recommended revisions to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to ensure national security risks are considered in Federal procurements concerning energy infrastructure and to prioritize acquisition of U.S.-manufactured energy infrastructure. This directs changes to how the Federal Government buys energy-related equipment.
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Key Dates
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