Generals Warn China's Volt Typhoon Already Infiltrates US Power Grid Systems

America’s vital systems—power grids, water utilities, telecommunications—face relentless cyberattacks. China’s Volt Typhoon leads the charge, sneaking into critical infrastructure with stealthy tactics that exploit everyday tools to avoid detection. This threat is real and immediate, endangering our national security. Department of Defense leaders, including Laurie Buckhout and Army Lt. Gen. William Hartman, delivered an urgent warning during a recent House hearing, calling for decisive action to strengthen our cyber defenses.

With over 40 years in cyber operations, Buckhout revealed how Volt Typhoon’s 'living off the land' methods could cripple essential services or fuel espionage. A 2024 Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency advisory confirms this, highlighting the group’s deep infiltration into key sectors. These aren’t random hacks. They’re strategic moves by adversaries to exploit our weaknesses. The risks are undeniable.

China isn’t alone. Russia ties cyberattacks to its global ambitions, Iran launches persistent malicious campaigns, and North Korea drives ransomware schemes. Criminal networks amplify the chaos, targeting infrastructure for profit. Cyberspace, a hub of global innovation, has become a battlefield. Can we afford to let our enemies set the rules of engagement?

Past policies left gaps. The prior administration’s Cybercom 2.0 initiative struggled to keep pace with evolving threats. Now, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is steering the DoD toward cyber dominance. His vision, shared at the U.S. Naval Academy, demands integrating offensive and defensive cyber strategies into every planning cycle. The goal is clear: secure a decisive advantage against adversaries.

Hegseth’s leadership prioritizes homeland defense and outpacing competitors like China. The question is straightforward. Will we act swiftly to protect our nation, or will we leave our infrastructure vulnerable to those who seek to undermine us?

U.S. Cyber Command fights on the front lines, conducting over 6,000 operations in 2024—a 25 percent increase from the previous year. Hartman’s testimony underscored this daily struggle, defending DoD networks and supporting the joint force against global threats. Yet, a critical challenge looms: a workforce strained by a hiring freeze and voluntary separations, with 5 to 8 percent of personnel leaving.

A world-class cyber workforce is essential, but private-sector competition makes recruitment tough. Cybercom retains coders, analysts, and operators by offering unique national security missions. Still, attracting linguists, planners, and other talent is a persistent issue. Federal agencies face a shortage of 500,000 to 700,000 cybersecurity experts, worsened by salaries trailing private firms by up to 30 percent.

Cyber operators face intense stress, and mental health support is lagging. A congressional report highlighted inadequate resources, and while Cybercom hired its first psychologist in 2025, more are needed. How can we ask our cyber warriors to endure without proper care? Bold investments—loan repayments, certifications, clear career paths—are vital to build and keep talent.

Since the 2002 CyberCorps Scholarship and 2015 NICE Framework, efforts to close the talent gap have faltered against tech giants’ appeal. The DoD’s 2023 Cyber Strategy, with $14.5 billion for cyber activities, shows commitment, but hiring flexibility and mental health support must match the urgency. A structure like U.S. Special Operations Command could streamline Cybercom’s workforce and operations.

Artificial intelligence is transforming cybersecurity. Hartman emphasized AI’s power to analyze threats and deploy responses swiftly, aligning with President Trump’s vision for AI-driven superiority. Cybercom’s partnership with the National Security Agency and its AI roadmap fuel pilot programs to enhance efficiency. These advancements position America to outsmart adversaries exploiting AI for deepfakes and zero-day attacks.

Global threats are surging. China’s Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon campaigns grew 150 percent in 2024-2025, targeting telecom, energy, and water systems. Russia’s ransomware networks, North Korea’s cloud-based espionage, and Iran’s AI-powered phishing demand a strong response. A 50 percent spike in critical infrastructure attacks highlights the need for network segmentation and real-time monitoring.

Some advocate global cooperation and regulation to address these threats, pushing for shared intelligence and workforce grants. This approach, however, risks weakening America’s strategic advantage by relying on adversaries’ goodwill. A better strategy focuses on offensive cyber capabilities, a 3 percent defense budget increase for 2025, and public-private partnerships to secure infrastructure. Strength, not diplomacy, deters aggression.

Under Hegseth’s leadership, the DoD is charting a path to dominate cyberspace. Refining Cybercom 2.0, leveraging AI, and prioritizing lethal capabilities offer a clear strategy. The 2023 DoD Cyber Strategy’s $14.5 billion investment, paired with the 2024 Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Strategy, builds a solid foundation. Securing contractor networks and updating legacy systems remain critical priorities.

Hesitation invites catastrophe. Historical attacks—Stuxnet in 2010, the 2021 Colonial Pipeline shutdown—show adversaries exploit delays. A 668 percent rise in operational technology incidents by 2025 demands proactive defense, not reliance on international agreements. America must lead with strength and innovation.

This fight matters to every American. A secure cyberspace safeguards our economy, infrastructure, and freedoms. By supporting our cyber warriors, embracing technology, and projecting power, we can deter those who threaten us. The moment for action is here. Our nation’s future hangs in the balance.