This past Friday, we got a much-needed break from Coronavirus policy debates. President Trump issued an executive order to help protect the national power grid from cyber-threats by decreasing the country’s dependence on foreign-manufactured equipment. In the executive order, President Trump states:
“I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, find that foreign adversaries are increasingly creating and exploiting vulnerabilities in the United States bulk-power system, which provides the electricity that supports our national defense, vital emergency services, critical infrastructure, economy, and way of life. The bulk-power system is a target of those seeking to commit malicious acts against the United States and its people, including malicious cyber activities, because a successful attack on our bulk-power system would present significant risks to our economy, human health and safety, and would render the United States less capable of acting in defense of itself and its allies.”
He goes on further to create a taskforce that will create a risk-strategy plan and charges the Secretary of Energy, currently Dan Brouillette, with identifying and replacing equipment that poses a security risk. This is a great step forward in ensuring the United States is safe from an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) attack in which a foreign adversary could completely take down our power grid in one attempt. Congress should follow the President’s steps and further ensure policies are made that protect our vital grid.
At our “Eagle Council XLVII” this past September, the Center for Security Policy’s Tommy Waller presented on the dangers of an EMP attack and the effective steps the country should take to help prevent one. We encourage you to listen to his speech below. For further information, please visit securethegrid.org.
