Pentagon investigates spoiled food in military freezers as possible cyberattack

US military bases reported malfunctioning commissary freezers and spoiled food in August 2026. The Pentagon is investigating whether the incidents were a coordinated cyberattack.

According to Reuters, six bases reported freezer problems on social media. Fort Irwin, F.E. Warren, Naval Station Newport, Columbus and Travis were among those confirmed to have been affected. The source does not identify the sixth base.

The reported malfunctions resembled an attack on freezers at French supermarkets, where units were set to defrost or their temperatures were raised overnight. Pentagon officials said they are in contact with French authorities. A US Cyber Command unit is working with several agencies, including the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division’s Cyber Field Office. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service is leading a joint investigation, the Defense Department said, adding that it would not comment on ongoing law enforcement investigations.

Danfoss, the brand targeted in the French supermarket attacks, said at the time that many affected supermarkets used obsolete devices or outdated firmware. Internet-connected freezers can be managed remotely, but outdated firmware may leave them vulnerable to remote access and changes to their settings. The source does not establish that the US incidents were cyberattacks.