Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Citizens in the United States and across the modern industrialized democracies of the world reliance on electronics for every aspect of their lives, making them particularly vulnerable to attacks that could disrupt the electrical grid.

A nuclear warhead detonated at high altitude over the United States or an allied country would trigger an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), a shockwave that would “cripple military and civilian communications, power, transportation, water, food, and other infrastructure” and potentially kill millions of people.

Citizens in the United States and across the modern industrialized democracies of the world reliance on electronics for every aspect of their lives, making them particularly vulnerable to attacks that could disrupt the electrical grid.

A nuclear warhead detonated at high altitude over the United States or an allied country would trigger an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), a shockwave that would “cripple military and civilian communications, power, transportation, water, food, and other infrastructure” and potentially kill millions of people.

This threat emanates most notably from Iran, whose president has promised that “a world without America” is both possible and attainable. The Iranian regime is developing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, yet our country remains unprepared to deal with an EMP attack.