Address the Iranian Threat to the Electric Grid

An American carrier battle group is headed toward the Persian Gulf in response to as-yet-undisclosed “indications and warnings” of threatening Iranian behavior. Presumably, the targets are U.S. personnel or allies in the region, or the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

A similar, but even more urgent response is needed to protect another, far more vulnerable target, namely our nation’s electric grid.

In an executive order signed in March, President Trump recognized the acute vulnerability of this most critical of our critical infrastructures – especially to a phenomenon known as electromagnetic pulse. Like all of this country’s other enemies, the Iranians understand that they could use EMP, sabotage or cyber attacks to destroy the United States.

We must act with at least as much urgency to address this peril as the one perceived to be emerging in the Persian Gulf.