Since World War II, the military logistics of the United States, particularly in terms of energy supplies, have been largely unchallenged. However, that seems to be changing.
Recent cyberattacks by Iran on American water facilities in at least seven states indicate a broader threat. Iranian officials have openly suggested targeting the U.S. energy infrastructure along with other strategic sites, adhering to long-standing military strategies.
Moreover, both China and Russia have included attacks on energy systems in their military strategies, which suggests that it’s really time for the U.S. to prepare. To safeguard its energy infrastructure from threats posed by Iran and others, the United States should adopt four key measures.
First, the U.S. should insist that vital infrastructure components not be produced in China or any other hostile nations.
Second, ensuring the reliability and safety of electricity must become a top priority for governments and utility companies, including in the selection of fuel sources.
Third, there’s a need to reinforce power systems against both cyber threats and acts of sabotage.
Finally, the U.S. should develop defenses to counter electromagnetic attacks that could disrupt or damage electronic systems.
It’s clear that hybrid warfare has taken the place of conventional military confrontations, and the lines between domestic and foreign battlegrounds are increasingly blurred. Iran perceives America as overly dependent on technology, believing that strikes on our energy supplies could significantly diminish our advantages in any conflict. Such disruptions wouldn’t only impact military operations; civilian power supplies are intertwined with military needs. If domestic power goes out, it could lead to public panic and diminish support for military efforts.
Disruptions could also slow down military operations. For instance, a more straightforward approach to thwarting a bomber could be to cut the power at the pilot’s home or base rather than trying to shoot it down. A good example here is that China’s military strategy involves targeting energy infrastructure before an invasion of Taiwan.
In recent times, there have been various instances of cyberattacks as well as physical sabotage against the U.S. power grid, like the cyberattacks on the Colonial Pipeline and sniper incidents involving transformers in states like California, Utah, and Oregon. Unfortunately, these issues have largely gone unaddressed.
Even more concerning, we’ve integrated components into our own power grid that allow adversaries like China to disrupt electricity in the U.S. China is the leading manufacturer of power inverters, crucial for converting high-intensity current to usable electricity. By controlling these remotely, Beijing could orchestrate widespread outages, possibly in coordination with Iran. Therefore, it’s essential to eliminate Chinese-made inverters and other related products from the U.S. grid.
Yet, this is just one avenue through which adversaries can attack the energy grid. By manipulating the frequency of electricity across power infrastructure, they can cause fires, explosions, and even fatalities.
The threat of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is even more serious. Several nations, including China, Russia, and North Korea, possess EMP capabilities, and reports indicate Iran was close to achieving similar capabilities prior to the U.S.-Israeli offensive in June 2025.
But not all vulnerabilities stem from foreign threats. Over the last decade, the U.S. and many allies have invested heavily in renewable energy. While that may be wise in certain areas, it creates additional vulnerabilities in others.
Countries like Europe and the UK have compromised their energy and, by extension, physical security, due to net-zero policies, and Taiwan has faced similar challenges due to the closure of nuclear power plants. The reliability of energy sources is crucial not only for the U.S. military but also for our allies. When vulnerable, our capacity to assist them is diminished. In facing international threats, both power companies and governments must prioritize the security of energy supplies.
Let’s be clear: we’re not defeated yet. In reality, our vulnerabilities reflect our successes. Advanced militaries and societies like the U.S. and its allies genuinely have more at stake regarding energy attacks than countries with less reliable systems, like North Korea or Iran, which already struggle with power access. The U.S. military, in particular, relies heavily on electrical and electronic systems vital for logistics, communication, and weaponry. These advancements have cemented our status as the leading military power, but they also need robust protection.
Attacking our energy is certainly a priority for adversaries. Thus, protecting it must be ours.
