Congresswoman McCollum Statement on Suspected Iranian Involvement in Attack on Minnesota’s Water Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement on Thursday in response to reporting from the New York Times indicating that investigators suspect that Iranian hackers were behind the cyberattacks on dozens of Minnesota's municipal water systems earlier this week:

"This incident demonstrates that Minnesota's municipalities, businesses, and residents must be prepared not only to ward off cybersecurity threats from cybercriminals, but also from terrorist organizations and nation-states," said Congresswoman McCollum. "It also shows the urgent need for the federal government to advance critical cybersecurity measures to protect small businesses, large enterprises, and local governments by providing state-of-the-art defensive measures to defend against malicious attacks by bad actors who intend to sow chaos and extract ransom. I have worked closely with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in partnership with Metro State University to ensure that our communities are prepared to protect themselves from these attacks, and I will continue to aggressively pursue funding and resources to support defensive measures for Minnesota's businesses and municipalities."

"Cybersecurity is inseparable from public safety. Although no contamination or public health impacts have been reported, this attack demonstrates the risks posed when malicious actors gain access to the operational technology that supports essential water and wastewater services," said Faisal Kaleem, Director and Professor of Cybersecurity, Metro State University. "Minnesota's communities need trained cybersecurity professionals, secure systems, affordable continuous monitoring, and strong partnerships among federal, state, local, and educational institutions. Metro State University is committed to helping build that resilience through education, workforce development, and partnerships that strengthen the critical infrastructure Minnesotans depend on every day."

Congresswoman McCollum has worked to provide federal resources for cybersecurity initiatives since 2021, when she served as the Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. She believes that Minnesota must continue to work to take advantage of the opportunities provided by this federal funding. These attacks show the necessity of developing a strong workforce that includes cybersecurity professionals who will be able to support efforts to prevent and defend against cyberattacks.

Congresswoman McCollum has also worked closely with Metro State University in Saint Paul, which continues to be a key leader in this effort, and she has supported the expansion of Metro State's cybersecurity education programs through Community Project Funding. Metro State University has also led the way in partnering with the Minnesota National Guard on cyber training initiatives, providing a model for how Minnesota's public and private sectors can work with the cybersecurity professionals in the National Guard to defend our communities. Congresswoman McCollum will continue to support these efforts through her work in Congress to supply them with the resources required to protect Minnesotans.