Trump Declares Nat’l Emergency and Bans Buying Energy Equipment from "Foreign Adversaries"

By B.N. Frank

Cybersecurity threats and attacks are nothing new, including in the energy and utility industries (see 1, 2, 3). This stark reality may be why Trump has issued the new ban.

From NextGov:

Some stakeholders say Commerce Department rules to implement a similar order about telecommunications equipment from last May are “impossible” to comply with.

President Trump has tasked the Secretary of Energy with issuing rules that would ban U.S. entities from procuring foreign equipment that the administration said could make the nation’s electricity systems vulnerable to cyberattacks.

“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,” he said declaring a national emergency in an executive order issued today.

The order seeks to restrict the acquisition of electric equipment “designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of foreign adversaries.”

The order does not specifically mention China or any other country.

Read Full Article

Security experts have been warning that cyberattacks on utility equipment – including electric, gas, and water “smart” meters and grids – are likely to increase because they are easy targets. Problems with these meters and grids aren’t isolated to cybersecurity threats – not by a long shot (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Unfortunately, they are still promoted by some environmental groups (see 1, 2) as being “green” and beneficial to customers. OMG NO! Utility companies defend “smart” meters and grids because they allow them to do 24/7 data collection on customers and they can sell that to third parties.

On a related note – some Congress members have finally stepped in to demand that the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) or Trump stop 5G deployment due to the Department of Defense’s warnings that it also threatens national security. Freaked out yet?

Activist Post reports regularly about all issues associated with unsafe technology. For more information, visit our archives and the following websites:

Image: Pixabay

Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Flote, Minds, and Twitter.

Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.