U.S. President Donald Trump declared a national emergency on Wednesday (August 26, 2026) over foreign-made equipment inside the country's electric grid, saying the growing need for power has made the system a target for hostile governments. The executive order blocks companies from buying, importing or installing certain foreign-made parts used in what the government calls the bulk-power system. A bulk-power system is the network of high-voltage lines, substations and power plants that transmits electricity across the country. In the order, Trump said the boom in AI data centres and other advanced technology projects has left the United States more dependent on stable electricity than ever. He argued that if the grid went down, the damage would be far worse than in the past.