Washington, Aug. 27 (SANA) – U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency over threats to the country’s bulk-power system, while the Army announced plans to deploy nuclear microreactors at five military installations to strengthen energy resilience.
The order prohibits the acquisition, importation, transfer or installation of certain foreign-produced electrical equipment, software and digital systems when authorities determine they pose a significant national security risk.
The White House said foreign-produced equipment could contain vulnerabilities, including digital backdoors allowing foreign actors to remotely access critical infrastructure. The order also cited malicious cyber activity among threats facing the U.S. electricity system.
The Energy Department has 120 days to develop implementing rules in consultation with other federal agencies. Authorities are also expected to identify potentially risky equipment and recommend measures to monitor, isolate or replace it.
Army turns to nuclear power for energy resilience
Separately, the U.S. Army said it planned to deploy nuclear microreactors at five military bases, seeking reliable power for critical operations if the commercial electricity grid fails.
Five companies could receive up to $2.2 billion over five years to own, build and operate the reactors if they meet specified performance milestones. The Army expects more than 20 microreactors eventually to be built and operated under its Janus Program.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said the program was designed to provide reliable baseload power directly to military installations and reduce reliance on potentially vulnerable external grids.
The selected companies are Antares Nuclear at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, BWXT at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems at Fort Hood in Texas, Radiant Industries at Fort Benning in Georgia and Westinghouse Government Services at Fort Drum in New York.
Individual reactors are expected to generate between 1 and 20 megawatts, depending on their design. The military installations will remain connected to the commercial grid, with the reactors providing an additional source of resilient power rather than supplying all their electricity.
The Army currently relies primarily on diesel generators for backup power to critical infrastructure, but military officials have said transporting fossil fuels could become difficult during a conflict.
Cybersecurity and foreign supply concerns
The two measures form part of a broader Trump administration push to strengthen domestic energy infrastructure and reduce vulnerabilities in systems considered critical to national security.
Washington has for years raised concerns about foreign-made equipment in critical infrastructure, particularly technology linked to China.
In 2024, then-FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress that Chinese-linked hackers had gained access to U.S. critical infrastructure networks, including the electricity sector, and could seek to disrupt them during a conflict.
Trump pursued similar restrictions during his first term, signing an executive order in 2020 targeting foreign-made bulk-power equipment considered a security risk. The Biden administration later suspended the measure while reviewing it and revoked and replaced a related Energy Department order.
Trump also signed executive orders in May 2025 aimed at accelerating nuclear power development, including advanced reactor technologies. The Army was tasked with having an advanced reactor operating at a U.S. military installation by Sept. 30, 2028.
No nuclear microreactors currently supply electricity to the U.S. commercial grid.
The Janus Program is intended to strengthen military energy resilience while helping move advanced reactor technologies from experimental projects toward wider deployment.
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