US President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency in the United States to ensure the country's energy security, according to infohub.kz.
The presidential decree was published on the official White House website. The document states that, using the powers granted by the US Constitution and laws, Trump is imposing a state of emergency. "My highest obligation as President of the United States is to protect the national security, foreign policy, and economy of this country. Some foreign actors are increasingly creating and exploiting vulnerabilities in the American centralized electricity system, which powers our national defense, vital emergency services, critical infrastructure, and economy. During my first term, I found that the centralized electricity system could be a target for those seeking to commit malicious acts against the United States, including malicious cyberattacks. Due to significant risks, a successful attack would have consequences for our economy, health and safety of the people, as well as national defense," the decree reads.
Trump also stated that since his first term, the threat to the US regarding foreign supplies of electrical equipment for the centralized electricity system has become even more acute. "The rapid growth of advanced manufacturing, data centers, artificial intelligence, and defense production has increased the country's dependence on abundant and reliable electricity and amplified the consequences of a successful attack or disruption in supplies to the centralized electricity system. Minimal restrictions on the acquisition or operation in the United States of foreign-made electrical equipment for the power grid increase the ability of some foreign companies to create and exploit vulnerabilities in such equipment; for example, digital backdoors can be embedded in such equipment systems, allowing a foreign state to remotely access this equipment," he states in the decree.
Furthermore, the American leader draws attention to the continued dependence of the United States on foreign suppliers of electrical equipment for power grids with potential vulnerabilities. "This also creates a vulnerability in the supply chain that could lead to a halt in supplies of these products to the United States due to disruptions in international trade or for other reasons," Trump said. It is reported that within 120 days, the US Department of Energy must take measures to implement the decree.