LANSING, Michigan — Michigan has joined at least six other states reporting cyberattacks against municipal water systems, expanding a federal investigation into attempts to disrupt critical public infrastructure.
Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy said nine communities reported suspicious activity consistent with a federal warning about attacks targeting internet-connected industrial control equipment. State officials said local operators addressed the problems and that water remained safe, with no known public-health effects.
The attacks follow breaches affecting more than 30 Minnesota water systems. Some utilities temporarily lost remote control or communications capabilities, although operators maintained service by manually managing equipment. Systems in Georgia and South Dakota were also reportedly targeted.
The FBI said malicious cyber actors were attacking programmable logic controllers used to manage pumps, pressure and water-treatment operations. Federal agencies have not publicly identified the perpetrators, although cybersecurity officials have noted similarities to previous Iranian-linked attacks.
President Donald Trump dismissed suggestions that Iran was responsible and instead blamed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz without providing evidence. Walz accused Trump of ignoring the broader national-security threat because several states experienced similar attacks.
The FBI and environmental agencies are urging utilities to disconnect unnecessary internet-facing equipment, change default passwords and strengthen monitoring as the investigation continues.
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