A chilling revelation has emerged in Washington on Wednesday, as reports reveal rogue communication devices embedded within Chinese-made solar power inverters connected to the U.S. power grid.
In response, Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) have fired off an urgent letter to Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler, demanding an immediate investigation into what they fear could be a “kill switch” in the hands of the Chinese Communist regime.
The discovery of these unidentified communication devices, reportedly capable of exfiltrating sensitive data, has ignited fears of a national security threat. Senators Scott and Blackburn, in their letter, draw parallels to President Donald Trump’s warnings about foreign adversaries exploiting vulnerabilities in American critical infrastructure.
READ: Columbia University’s Accreditation Status Jeopardized Amid Federal Civil Rights Violations
“This is the exact threat President Trump sought to address years ago, and that threat is clearly still dangerously real,” the senators wrote, highlighting their long-standing efforts to remove Communist China from U.S. networks and infrastructure. They expressed deep concern that these CCP-manufactured components could allow for remote access, unauthorized data theft, and even operational disruption of the American power grid.
The senators’ letter underscores the critical importance of a robust investigation into the presence of any Chinese-manufactured components – including inverters, transformers, and supervisory control and data acquisition devices – within the U.S. power grid.
They argue that such an inquiry is crucial to understand the extent of U.S. dependence on Chinese technology for electricity and vital services, and to implement measures to secure the grid swiftly.
Citing a troubling history of Chinese aggression and cyber espionage, Scott and Blackburn pointed to numerous examples of Beijing’s willingness to leverage its technology against the United States. From Chinese-made drones allegedly spying on American families to the Volt Typhoon campaign targeting critical infrastructure, the senators painted a grim picture of a regime actively seeking to undermine U.S. national security.
“Every company based in Communist China reports to General Secretary Xi, who can and will use his power to disable, degrade, or manipulate U.S. infrastructure systems, thereby denying Americans access to electricity, communication, water, and transportation,” the letter warned.
READ: Voters Furious With California Gov. Gavin Newsom For Killing Passed Ballot Measure
The urgency of their plea is clear: “This regime cannot, under any circumstances, be allowed a ‘kill switch’ in our power grids.”
The ball is now in Under Secretary Kessler’s court. As the nation grapples with this alarming news, all eyes will be on the Commerce Department to see if it will heed the senators’ call and launch the comprehensive investigation needed to safeguard America’s power grid and protect its citizens from this potentially devastating threat.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
