Pentagon orders bases to plan for 90 days without the grid

The Pentagon’s FORTRESS initiative would require major U.S. military bases to operate independently for at least 90 days if war or another crisis cut off power and supplies. The plan expands beyond generating electricity to cover water, fuel, communications and essential operations. Proposed measures include microgrids, battery storage and portable nuclear reactors; the Army has already announced up to $2.2 billion for nuclear microreactors at five bases. FORTRESS also calls for stockpiles of munitions, fuel, electronics, medical supplies and other essentials, along with backup suppliers and commercial factories prepared to shift to defense production. Officials are still assessing needs at roughly 500 installations, and meeting the goal could take decades and cost tens or hundreds of billions of dollars.

The plan reflects growing concern that cyberattacks or sabotage could disrupt civilian infrastructure and military readiness, though the Pentagon has named no specific adversary and has not said war is imminent. Britain has separately launched guidance urging households to prepare for three days without essential services, including by storing water, nonperishable food, cash, lighting and first-aid supplies. Its campaign builds on existing emergency advice, while British defense officials warn of threats from hostile states, cyberattacks, crime and climate change. European Union and U.S. preparedness initiatives point to a broader shift: governments are preparing both institutions and the public for disruptions that could begin with a power failure rather than conventional combat.