WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is accelerating preparations to defend the nation's critical infrastructure against cyberattacks and physical sabotage, raising alarms about vulnerabilities in the power grid, water treatment facilities and transportation networks.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is directing the Joint Chiefs of Staff to review national defense strategies with an emphasis on resilience against sophisticated attacks on essential services. Senior defense officials across multiple military branches are coordinating new readiness protocols.
President Trump signed an executive order in May establishing a task force to identify and harden critical infrastructure against emerging threats. The task force has received an initial $500 million allocation from the defense budget for security enhancements.
The Department of Homeland Security is collaborating with state and local agencies to bolster defenses. The agency is expected to release a comprehensive report on infrastructure vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies next month.
On Capitol Hill, the concern is bipartisan. Representative Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has called for increased federal investment in domestic defense capabilities. Senator Jack Reed, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, supports the Pentagon's intensified focus on safeguarding U.S. infrastructure. A congressional hearing on defense readiness is scheduled for Nov. 15, where senior military leaders will brief lawmakers on progress and outline future funding needs.
