DoD Plan Calls for 90-Day Independent Military Operations

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled a long-term strategic plan on Sept. 30 that has fueled viral claims of an impending 90-day national blackout. The document, titled the FORTRESS America initiative, is a preparedness framework rather than an alert for an active power cut or attack.

The rumor spread quickly on social media, but experts note that the public is misinterpreting the text. The initiative is designed to ensure the U.S. military can fight and win under any circumstances, including during a major cyberattack.

Sean Evans, chair and professor of political science at Union University, explained that the goal is preparation against growing threats. “We know that more nations are engaging in cyber attacks,” Evans said. “We’re concerned about sabotage, so the whole idea is that if something happens that our military will be prepared. They’ll have a 90-day supply of energy. They’ll have back up ammunition.”

The FORTRESS America strategy rests on five main pillars. These include energy independence, supply-chain and defense-industrial base resilience, a strategic defense reserve, installation hardening and cyber resilience, and resilience in space and spectrum.

Under this new directive, every military department and defense agency must be able to operate independently for at least 90 days. This self-sufficiency requires secure access to water, electricity, fuel, and communications networks.

The plan does not announce a specific date for a blackout, nor does it declare an active threat. It simply mandates that the military maintain enough resources to function for three months without external support.