Mysterious Freezer Failures Spark Pentagon Cyberattack Investigation
The Pentagon is investigating a suspected cyberattack against American military bases after mysterious refrigeration failures destroyed food supplies at installations across the United States.
Francis Kapper · Oct 29, 2026 · 4 min read
The Pentagon is investigating a suspected cyberattack against American military bases after mysterious refrigeration failures destroyed food supplies at installations across the United States.
At least six military commissaries experienced unusual freezer malfunctions in late August, raising suspicions that their refrigeration systems were deliberately sabotaged, Reuters reported Thursday, citing four officials familiar with the matter. American military investigators are now coordinating with French authorities after a similar cyberattack hit hundreds of supermarkets in France earlier this month, according to the outlet.
A unit of U.S. Cyber Command is working with federal agencies and law enforcement to investigate the incidents, the Pentagon told Reuters.
The French Embassy in Washington, U.S. Cyber Command and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Army Criminal Investigation Division also confirmed its Cyber Field Office was involved and was cooperating with French law enforcement to understand similar disruptions in Europe, according to Reuters.
The malfunctioning equipment did not simply lose power. At Fort Huachuca, Arizona, the commissary’s freezers unexpectedly entered defrost mode overnight, heating stored food until it spoiled, according to an installation announcement on Facebook.
Other affected installations included Fort Irwin, California; F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming; Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island; Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi; and Travis Air Force Base, California, Stars and Stripes reported on Aug. 28.
The failures forced commissaries to discard thousands of dollars in refrigerated merchandise, including meat, dairy products and frozen foods. Some stores temporarily restricted sales while technicians worked to restore refrigeration equipment, the outlet reported, citing military installation announcements.
The possibility of coordinated sabotage emerged after the disruptions occurred at multiple installations within days of one another. Military investigators subsequently opened inquiries into the outages, Stars and Stripes reported on Sept. 1.