Executive Order to Prohibit Imports of Electrical Grid Equipment

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Aug. 28, 2026
By: Marvin E. McPherson

On August 26, 2026 the President announced Executive Order 14420 (“EO 14420”) Declaring a National Emergency to Secure the United States Bulk-Power System. EO 14420 establishes a framework for further government action concerning covered products and related supply-chain activities. The Order contemplates restrictions that may affect both the acquisition of covered products and, depending on subsequent implementation, their importation into the United States.

The Order’s more immediate implications concern acquisition restrictions, including limitations affecting the purchase or procurement of covered products by specified U.S. government agencies or other covered entities.

Covered products subject to the order include the transaction involves the equipment for or use of bulk-power systems which is defined as:

i) Facilities and control systems necessary for operating an interconnected electric energy transmission network (or any portion thereof); and

ii) Electric energy from generation facilities needed to maintain electric system reliability.  For the purpose of this order, this definition includes transmission lines rated at 69,000 volts (69 kV) or more, but does not include facilities used in the local distribution of electric energy.

This could include grid, substation, transmission, metering protection, power conversion and energy storage equipment.

Within 120 days, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with other agencies, is directed to publish rules implementing the Order. In addition to implementing the prohibition, the agencies are to identify “Covered Foreign Entities”, equipment or countries with transactions involving bulk-power system electric equipment that warrant particular scrutiny and establish licensing procedures.

Within 180 days, the Secretary of Energy is to provide the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council with recommended FAR revisions to “adequately” consider national security risks in procurements related to energy infrastructure, and to prioritize the acquisition of U.S.-manufactured energy infrastructure. 

If you have any questions regarding the restricted equipment, covered entities or import restrictions in general, please contact any attorney at Barnes Richardson and Colburn.