US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that declares a threat to the national power system constituting a national emergency. The nature of the threat is one of cyber and other security raised by the use of equipment sourced from foreign countries, and thus can be seen as part of the trend of deglobalisation that the US has been pushing towards over the course of the Trump presidency, and which now appears to be intensifying. (Elements of deglobalisation are likely to be adopted to some extent by other countries as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, though perhaps from different motives). As a result of the order, the US energy secretary in conjunction with other officials will be able to prohibit acquisition, importation, transfer or installation of power equipment – substations, control rooms, or power plants – from countries which are considered to pose a risk of sabotage. Which countries pose a threat are not detailed, but are likely to include China and Russia.