Just a trial run by the Chicoms to test their hack to paralyze the federal government. It’ll will last much, much, much longer once they have everything (and everyone) in place. They certainly won’t want to use it while their Useful Idiot, the POSOTUS is still in the White House.
Them, or someone else who has it in for us.
I don't think the physical plant of those two structures would allow for a random "power flicker".