Congressional Commission reports little progress on national grid security in nearly two decades

In 2004, a Commission appointed by the Congress to study the potential effects of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack on the United States issued a report that sounded a grave warning along with a hopeful note.

16 years later, we are no closer to solving this problem. The following is the abstract of the report (emphasis ours):

Several potential adversaries have or can acquire the capability to attack the United States with a high-altitude nuclear weapon-generated electromagnetic pulse (EMP).

A determined adversary can achieve an EMP attack capability without having a high level of sophistication.

EMP is one of a small number of threats that can hold our society at risk of catastrophic consequences.

EMP will cover the wide geographic region within line of sight to the nuclear weapon.

It has the capability to produce significant damage to critical infrastructures and thus to the very fabric of US society, as well as to the ability of the United States and Western nations to project influence and military power.

The common element that can produce such an impact from EMP is primarily electronics, so pervasive in all aspects of our society and military, coupled through critical infrastructures.

Our vulnerability is increasing daily as our use of and dependence on electronics continues to grow.

The impact of EMP is asymmetric in relation to potential protagonists who are not as dependent on modern electronics.

The current vulnerability of our critical infrastructures can both invite and reward attack if not corrected.

Correction is feasible and well within the Nation's means and resources to accomplish.

You can find the original 63 page executive report here.

The Commission has met several times since then, the most recent report having been issued in 2018. You an find that executve report here.