Signal White House Declares National Emergency to Secure US Bulk-Power System, Addresses Drone Threats

Summary

The White House announced that President Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency to protect the security of the United States' bulk-power system, effective August 26, 2026. The order invokes the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the National Emergencies Act in response to an unusual and extraordinary threat from foreign-produced bulk-power system equipment, particularly the risk of interference by foreign actors. It generally prohibits the purchase or installation of certain foreign-produced bulk-power equipment, including associated critical software and digital capabilities that could pose cybersecurity or operational risks, or conditions such purchases to address those risks. Alongside this order, the administration also signed a separate proclamation addressing national security threats posed by imported drones and their components. Together, the two actions treat grid infrastructure and drone hardware as active national security concerns and reflect a broader push to tighten control over foreign supply chains.