Lawmakers expressed outrage at the Biden administration’s handling of a large-scale Chinese government-linked cyberattack on U.S. and global telecommunications systems, described as the most significant breach of its kind. The hack, conducted by a group known as Salt Typhoon, infiltrated dozens of telecom companies, potentially enabling surveillance of U.S. officials and citizens.
Senators were briefed by federal agencies, including the FBI and CISA, but many were dissatisfied. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) criticized the lack of accountability, and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) called for declassifying more details to inform the public about the breach’s scope. Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner (D-Va.) blamed telecom companies for inadequate security, while Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) labeled the hack the most extensive in history.
CISA Director Jen Easterly highlighted ongoing investigations and stated the Cyber Safety Review Board would formally address the breach. Congress is also working on cybersecurity legislation, with bipartisan efforts to introduce standards for telecom security. Lawmakers stressed the urgency of countering China’s cyber operations, with Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) advocating for an offensive response.
Despite bipartisan agreement on the severity of the breach, its long-term implications remain under investigation.
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