In May 2021, cybercriminals shut down the Colonial Pipeline, halting fuel supplies across the southeastern United States and causing widespread shortages. The incident revealed how a single cyberattack can ripple through the economy, and how dependent our defense and civilian sectors are on fragile energy networks.

Attacks like this highlight the urgent need for stronger cyber defenses and remind us that energy underpins every aspect of national security. If a conflict with an adversary, such as China or Russia, were to occur, we cannot be certain that we will have reliable energy from the existing electrical grid.

The strength of the American armed forces — and of our economy — depends on reliable energy. Yet our most critical infrastructure remains dangerously vulnerable to cyberattack

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