President Trump declares National Emergency as hackers threaten the US electricity system

President Trump declared a national emergency as relates to the threat from foreign powers to the United States bulk-power system. The President said that the hacking could have “potentially catastrophic effects.”

On Fridday, the President issued the declaration saying that “foreign adversaries are increasingly creating and exploiting vulnerabilities in the United States bulk-power system.”

The order went on to ban the “acquisition, importation, transfer, or installation,” of bulk-power system electricity equipment from companies under foreign adversary control.

The Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence will work on a task force to help secure the national defense as relates to enery and the power grid.

The order read in part:

I therefore determine that the unrestricted foreign supply of bulk-power system electric equipment constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, which has its source in whole or in substantial part outside the United States.  This threat exists both in the case of individual acquisitions and when acquisitions are considered as a class.  Although maintaining an open investment climate in bulk-power system electric equipment, and in the United States economy more generally, is important for the overall growth and prosperity of the United States, such openness must be balanced with the need to protect our Nation against a critical national security threat.  To address this threat, additional steps are required to protect the security, integrity, and reliability of bulk-power system electric equipment used in the United States.  In light of these findings, I hereby declare a national emergency with respect to the threat to the United States bulk-power system.

You can read the complete order from the President at this link.