New Bill Targets Smart Device Security

National,Harbor,,Md,Us,-,Mar,2,,2023:,Us,Sen

Washington is finally moving to shut foreign backdoors in our homes before they can flip our grids off like a light switch.

Story Highlights

Bill orders a federal investigation into high‑wattage smart devices tied to foreign adversaries, with a focus on China.
Measure seeks to codify Trump‑era Executive Order 13873, giving Commerce lasting authority to restrict or ban risky tech.
Devices in scope include EV chargers, dryers, water heaters, ovens, and air conditioners capable of remote control.
Supporters say closing these vulnerabilities protects the grid, consumer privacy, and U.S. sovereignty.

What Scott’s PROTECT the Grid Act Would Do

Sen. Rick Scott’s PROTECT the Grid Act directs the Department of Commerce to assess national security risks from high‑wattage, internet‑connected appliances produced or controlled by companies under foreign adversaries, especially the Chinese Communist Party. The bill would examine whether remote‑controllable devices—like EV chargers, clothes dryers, ovens, water heaters, and air conditioners—could be used to disrupt the U.S. electric grid through coordinated manipulation. The legislation pairs near‑term assessment with the longer‑term ability to act on findings.

The proposal also seeks to codify authorities from Executive Order 13873, first issued in 2019, that empower Commerce to restrict or ban information and communications technology or services linked to foreign adversaries. Codifying those tools would make them more durable than an executive order alone and directly applicable to the consumer device landscape now embedded in grid operations. Scott’s office frames the CCP’s influence over companies and data access as a central risk to address.

Sen. Rick Scott Introduces PROTECT the Grid Act to Counter Chinese Influence on U.S. Electric Infrastructure Through Smart Appliances https://t.co/GxJA3fxb8c

— The Gateway Pundit (@gatewaypundit) August 10, 2025

Why High‑Wattage “Smart” Devices Matter to Grid Security

Household devices that draw significant power and can be remotely controlled present a potential aggregate load that, if manipulated at scale, could stress or destabilize local grids. As utilities and aggregators expand demand‑response programs, more appliances link to networks and apps. The bill targets that emerging attack surface by directing Commerce to inventory risks, examine supplier control and software pathways, and recommend restrictions or bans where warranted to protect reliability and consumer privacy.

Endorsements from economic security advocates, such as the Coalition for a Prosperous America, highlight an added upside: encouraging domestic or allied suppliers for critical consumer technologies. The measure aligns with broader U.S. supply‑chain scrutiny of adversary‑linked equipment and aims to prevent vulnerabilities from migrating from utility gear into American kitchens, garages, and basements.

What Happens Next: Timelines, Gaps, and Oversight

The bill was introduced with a mandate for a time‑bound Commerce report after enactment, with secondary coverage citing a 270‑day window. Until formal text is posted, definitions of “high‑wattage,” precise device categories, and enforcement mechanics require verification. The official release and trade reporting are consistent on core aims: investigate the scope of foreign influence, identify vulnerabilities, and retain authority to restrict or ban implicated technologies to safeguard the grid and consumers.

If enacted and aggressively implemented, the law could reshape smart‑appliance and EV charging markets by setting cybersecurity baselines, firmware and update practices, vendor vetting, and provenance criteria. Utilities may integrate supplier risk into demand‑response enrollment and device certification. Manufacturers tied to foreign adversaries could face restrictions or exit, while U.S. and allied producers gain opportunities.