Since World War II, the U.S. military has relied on uncontested strategic logistics, including energy supplies. However, recent developments highlight growing threats to America’s domestic energy infrastructure from global adversaries such as Iran, China, and Russia.

Iran has conducted cyberattacks on U.S. water supply sites across at least seven states and has threatened to target American energy supplies and other strategic infrastructure, consistent with its longstanding military doctrine. Similarly, Chinese and Russian war doctrines include attacks on American and allied energy infrastructure.

Experts recommend four key steps to protect the U.S. power grid from these threats. A primary measure is to prohibit the use of components manufactured in China or other adversary states within critical infrastructure. This comes amid concerns that America over-relies on technology vulnerable to disruption.

Chinese military strategy reportedly involves attacking the U.S. domestic energy sector prior to any invasion of Taiwan. The U.S. has already experienced cyberattacks and physical sabotage, including the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack and sniper attacks on high-voltage transformers in California, Utah, and Oregon.

Additionally, China, Russia, and North Korea possess electromagnetic pulse (EMP) capabilities, and Iran was reportedly close to developing such capabilities before an American-Israeli offensive in June 2025.

These developments underscore the urgency of hardening America’s power grid against potential attacks from global adversaries.

Sources