Bipartisan Push for Energy Grid Cybersecurity Advances in Washington

In a decisive move to fortify the nation’s power and fuel networks against evolving physical and digital threats, the House Subcommittee on Energy successfully advanced five key pieces of legislation today under the leadership of Chairman Bob Latta.

These bills, several of which have historically enjoyed broad bipartisan support, are designed to modernize the Department of Energy’s emergency response functions and provide a robust defense for the country’s electric grid and pipeline infrastructure. Chairman Latta emphasized that the markup serves as a critical update to national security protocols, ensuring that the federal government can effectively protect against the sophisticated cyberattacks that increasingly target essential energy services.

Among the legislation forwarded to the Full Committee was the Energy Emergency Leadership Act, which passed via voice vote alongside the SECURE Grid Act to bolster overall grid resilience. A significant focus of the session remained on protecting more vulnerable regional entities, highlighted by the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks noted that while rural cooperatives face the same high-level threats as major metropolitan systems, they often lack the necessary resources to defend their networks, making the bill’s provision of technical assistance and grant funding vital for the stability of local farms and small businesses.

The subcommittee also addressed the specific vulnerabilities of fuel transport and international competition by advancing the Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act and the Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026. Congressman Randy Weber pointed out that securing pipelines and LNG facilities is non-negotiable for a reliable fuel supply, while Congressman Gabe Evans warned of the persistent danger posed by foreign hacker groups like Volt Typhoon. By reauthorizing the Energy Threat Analysis Center, lawmakers intend to create a more proactive defense posture to detect embedded threats within critical infrastructure before they can be used to disrupt domestic production or military readiness.