REGIONAL— As with so much in the news today, coverage of last week’s series of cyberattacks across at least seven U.S. states, became a subject for political sniping.
President Trump, as has become his pattern, started things rolling by laying the blame for the attacks in Minnesota on DFL Gov. Tim Walz.
The online news source Politico.com reported on Trump’s reaction to the cyberattacks in Minnesota.
“I blame it on Minnesota because they are grossly incompetent,” Trump said at a recent cabinet meeting at Camp David, adding that Walz is “corrupt” and “Iran has bigger problems than worrying about Minnesota.” Asked later if he could rule out Iranian responsibility, Trump said, “I don’t think there was an Iranian cyberattack. I think Minnesota ought to get its act together.”
Yet, the federal government’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, back on April 7, had issued an advisory to governmental entities across the county of “ongoing Iranian-affiliated cyber targeting of internet-connected operational technology” including the controls that were hacked during the recent cyberattack affecting 30 communities in Minnesota. Tower and Soudan were among the communities affected.
At least six other states have reported similar incidents, according to reports from the FBI. To date, the exact reason for the attacks or the possible foreign actors involved have not been identified.
Walz responded to the president’s claims on social media.
“Trump knows exactly who is responsible for this attack, and knows that other states were hit, too. This is what modern warfare looks like, and it further illustrates there’s no plan to win a war with Iran,” Walz wrote on X. “DOGE took an axe to CISA and left the U.S. exposed to cyberattacks. Thankfully, our experts in Minnesota were able to identify the vulnerability quickly and work with local communities to stop it.”
Tower-Breitung Wastewater Plant operator Matt Tuchel said the system has been running and operating normally since the initial cyberattack.
“Everything is operating as it should,” he said. “We will be working with our programmers to make sure this doesn’t happen again.” Tuchel said it is important to have some sort of remote access to the system, but they need to implement systems that cannot be hacked.
Minnesota U.S. Sen.Amy Klobuchar and Congresswoman Betty McCollum both echoed the concerns of foreign interference and urged action at the federal level.
“I’ve requested a briefing from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on the ongoing investigation and the potential involvement of foreign actors. I’m also in communication with state officials to help make sure they have the resources they need. Protecting our critical infrastructure and the safety of Minnesotans remains a top priority,” said Klobuchar.
“While the investigation is still ongoing, the FBI and EPA are warning utilities that hackers are trying to disrupt critical water infrastructure, and that the hackers targeted specific brands of control systems used by municipal water utilities.
“U.S. National Cyber Director Cairncross and I discussed updated technology, recognizing that resources are an issue for so many communities, not just in Minnesota but across the country.
McCollum, who is a ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, also urged federal action.
“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 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.”