A Strategic Imperative for EMP Resilience and National Recovery

This policy brief proposes the creation of a Department of Technology at all government levels to safeguard against large-scale electromagnetic pulse (EMP) events. The DoT would focus on hardening infrastructure, rapid recovery, and cross-jurisdiction coordination. Establishing this department is vital for national security, economic stability, and public safety preparedness.

Establishing a Department of Technology at All Levels of Government

Overview

In the face of emerging national security threats, one of the most critical yet under-addressed risks is a large-scale electromagnetic pulse (EMP) event—whether caused by solar activity or a manmade high-altitude detonation. Such an event could instantly disable power grids, communications systems, healthcare infrastructure, transportation networks, and digital records across the nation.

This policy brief advocates for the establishment of a Department of Technology (DoT) at the local, county, state, and federal levels as a necessary safeguard to protect critical systems and enable effective, coordinated recovery following an EMP event.

The Nature of the Threat

Modern infrastructure relies on unshielded, interconnected digital systems. An EMP would cause widespread, simultaneous failure across the following sectors:

Electric grids and substations
Communications (internet, radio, satellites, cellular)
Transportation (air, rail, traffic systems)
Hospitals and emergency medical devices
Water and wastewater facilities
Finance and logistics systems

Unlike regional disasters, an EMP would have nationwide reach with immediate consequences, cutting off aid routes, communication chains, and basic services. A lack of EMP preparation poses a significant risk to national security, economic stability, and public safety.

Current Gaps in Preparedness

Despite the threat’s magnitude, no dedicated agency currently exists to prepare for, mitigate, or lead technological recovery after an EMP event. Existing emergency management frameworks are not equipped to:

Harden infrastructure at scale
Deploy resilient technology quickly
Coordinate digital recovery across jurisdictions
Train specialized tech response teams

This strategic gap exposes communities to prolonged outages and disorder, with cascading failures likely to result in a long-term humanitarian and economic crisis.

Policy Proposal: Department of Technology

To address this challenge, we propose the creation of a Department of Technology at every level of government. This body would be tasked with the prevention, mitigation, and recovery planning necessary to ensure continuity in the wake of an EMP or other large-scale technological disruption.

Core Responsibilities

Infrastructure Hardening
Develop and enforce EMP shielding standards across energy, healthcare, transportation, and communication sectors.
Rapid Recovery Systems
Maintain caches of EMP-resistant technologies, manual backup tools, and secure data recovery systems.
Emergency Tech Response Teams
Train and deploy personnel skilled in restoring communications, diagnostics, power systems, and essential networks.
Vulnerability Audits
Conduct comprehensive EMP vulnerability assessments across public and private systems.
Public Education and Outreach
Implement awareness campaigns to prepare communities for technology failures and promote offline readiness strategies.
Cross-Jurisdiction Coordination
Serve as the central authority for local-to-federal collaboration, mutual aid, and system redundancy strategies.

Cost and Strategic Value

Estimated Investment:

$500 million initial federal allocation
$25–$50 million per state to establish regional offices
$2–$10 million per county/municipality depending on size

Comparative Cost of Inaction:

Estimated $2–4 trillion in national economic losses
Decades-long infrastructure recovery timelines
Humanitarian consequences on a national scale

Return on Investment:
Establishing a Department of Technology is a proactive, cost-effective safeguard that would drastically reduce recovery time, save lives, and ensure national stability following a worst-case scenario.

Implementation Timeline

Year 1

Federal legislation
Initial agency formation
Pilot programs in key states and metro areas

Years 2–3

Full rollout of local and county branches
Infrastructure audits and recovery system deployment
Community-based training initiatives

Year 4 and Beyond

EMP-hardening project completion
Ongoing readiness drills
Interagency coordination refinement

Legislative Action Needed

We call on elected officials and policymakers at every level to:

Support the introduction of legislation creating the Department of Technology
Allocate funding for pilot programs and infrastructure assessments
Champion EMP awareness and technological resilience as a public safety priority

This initiative is not about reacting to fear—it’s about leading with foresight.

Summary

An EMP disaster would not be a slow-burning crisis. It would be instant and far-reaching. Without preparation, it could paralyze the United States for months or even years.

A Department of Technology—structured locally, statewide, and nationally—offers a clear, actionable path forward. It is a strategic investment in resilience, readiness, and recovery. By acting now, we can ensure that when disaster strikes, we will have the tools, people, and systems in place to restore order and protect lives.

The time to prepare is before the lights go out.

Author

Written by

Department Technology

Welcome to the Department of Technology, a platform dedicated to advocating for a new era of technology governance where voters are empowered to elect their own technology leaders at the federal, state, county, and local levels. As technology shapes every aspect of our daily lives—from privacy and security to economic growth and public services—it’s essential that the people have a direct say in who leads the way. We are here to guide and inspire this movement, ensuring that technology works for everyone.