WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is requiring U.S. military bases to operate independently for at least 90 days during a major global conflict, overturning decades of reliance on continuous supply shipments.
The move reflects a blunt military assessment: in a war with China or Russia, existing logistics networks that feed hundreds of bases worldwide would collapse. Pentagon planners are now ordering bases to stockpile fuel, food, water, and ammunition and develop on-site production capabilities for energy—dismantling the just-in-time delivery model that has defined U.S. military operations since the 1990s.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff has mandated that U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. European Command, and other combatant commands identify specific self-sufficiency requirements for their regions. Installations in critical strategic areas—particularly those vulnerable to Chinese or Russian attack on sea lanes and air corridors—are the priority.
The plan will demand billions of dollars for construction, stockpiling, and training. Defense contractors specializing in logistics, energy infrastructure, and supply chain management are already positioning for new contracts. The Pentagon is expected to present a detailed budget request to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees this fiscal year, laying out specific costs and timelines for each region.
