Pete Hegseth Orders Military Bases to Go Off-Grid for National Resilience
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announces new policy to make U.S. military self-sufficient and resilient against attacks.
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has ordered all U.S. military bases to generate their own power, marking a significant shift toward national self-reliance. The move, announced during his ‘State of the Force’ remarks at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, aims to make the United States ‘impenetrable’ to potential attackers.
New Policy to Enhance Resilience
Hegseth highlighted the vulnerabilities of relying on the civilian power grid, which currently supplies 99% of military electricity needs, according to a 2021 Department of Commerce report. The new directive, named ‘FORTRESS America,’ emphasizes the need for self-sufficiency in energy, supplies, and infrastructure to ensure military readiness in any scenario.
‘That ends today,’ Hegseth declared to troops at Quantico. ‘Today, at my direction, we are launching FORTRESS America — a national insurance policy for the American homeland. FORTRESS stands for: Federal Operations for Resilience, Troop Resources, Energy, Supply, and Survivability.’
Strategic Shift Toward Domestic Production
The policy calls for all major military installations to generate their own power, independent of the civilian grid. Hegseth emphasized the importance of bringing critical supply chains home, including rare earths, specialty metals, semiconductors, and propellants, which will be mined, refined, and built in America.
‘We are bringing our critical supply chains home,’ he added. ‘The rare earths, the specialty metals, the semiconductors, the propellants — mined in America, refined in America, built in America, by American workers.’
Preparing for Worst-Case Scenarios
Hegseth also outlined plans for strategic reserves of munitions, fuel, medicine, and blood to ensure the U.S. can continue fighting even if global supply lines are disrupted. ‘In a real war,’ he noted, ‘they will break.’
‘We are hardening every installation on American soil,’ he continued. ‘Against cyber intrusion, sabotage, drones. And we are securing the high ground and the airwaves. Our satellites. Our spectrum. Our ability to see, to navigate, and to talk to one another.’
Reversing Past Dependencies
The War Department views this new policy as a way to reverse the dependence of past administrations, making the Pentagon the ‘Insurance Policy’ for the entire country. Hegseth criticized previous administrations for trading away resilience, one job, one factory, and one town at a time.
‘FORTRESS America is how we get it back,’ he said. ‘No matter the circumstance, this department will have the power, equipment, and supplies you need to take the fight to the enemy. The Department of War will be the insurance policy for the entire nation.’
With this initiative, Hegseth aims to ensure that the United States is prepared for any threat, reinforcing its position as the most powerful military in the world.
Source: Daily Wire
