Weatherizing Infrastructure in the North and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act of 2025

This bill tells the Department of Homeland Security to run a practice drill for a terrorist attack during extreme cold, like a polar vortex. The drill must focus on how a cold snap can shut down critical services, how problems can spread across power, water, and other systems, and how officials and community partners can keep people safe and services running. It also requires close coordination with federal, state, local, Tribal, territorial, private sector, and community groups to test and improve community resilience.

After the drill, the department has 60 days to file a report with initial findings, how they’ll use what they learned, and any law changes they may suggest.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial officials; private companies that run critical infrastructure; community groups; and the public that relies on essential services.
• What changes: A new nationwide exercise to plan for terrorism during extreme cold and manage cascading failures across critical systems, plus a required after-action report with lessons and next steps.
• When: The exercise is to be developed and conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, followed by a report due within 60 days after the exercise ends.