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I hope you saw my latest weekly column.

 

ROGER WICKER: Cyber hacks threaten U.S. energy, food supply
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On May 7, criminal hackers launched a cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline, the
largest gas pipeline serving the United States. The company was temporarily
forced to shut down its pipeline, disrupting energy supplies running from the
Gulf Coast to New Jersey. As a result, fuel shortages affected residents across
the Southeastern United States, causing long lines and higher prices at the
pump and leaving thousands without gas. The hackers held Colonial’s networks
hostage until the company paid nearly $5 million in ransom money so that the
flow of gas could resume.

 

This direct attack on our infrastructure exposed risks to our energy supply.
Our nation has about three million miles of pipelines carrying vital resources
across the country. These energy products keep our businesses running, our
lights on, and our homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Similarly,
our electric power grid has become essential in providing power to our
communities. It is critical that these infrastructure assets be protected
against future attacks like the one on May 7.

 

Congress Responds to Cyber Threat

 

Recently the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing with top government
officials to assess the Colonial attack and the federal government’s response.
As the committee’s lead Republican, I had the opportunity to question David
Pekoske, the head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the
agency tasked with protecting our transportation infrastructure from cyber
risks. I stressed to Mr. Pekoske how important it is that TSA seek input from
the private sector in improving security.

 

After the hearing, I co-authored a letter to the Department of Commerce urging
them to grow our cybersecurity workforce. This would build on momentum from two
laws I authored last year, which laid the foundation for improving cyber
protections and hiring more talent in cyber defense.

 

U.S. Must Strike Back Against Cyber Attackers

 

The Colonial hack is just one of the latest cyberattacks against our country.
Earlier this year, Chinese hackers broke into Microsoft email systems used by
many American companies, allowing these criminals access to sensitive emails
and U.S. intellectual property. In May, Russian-linked hackers targeted JBS,
the world’s largest meat producer, forcing factory shutdowns across the United
States that restricted our beef supply. Last year, Russia conducted an extended
hack against the U.S. government and private companies, which went unnoticed
for months. And between 2011 and 2013, Chinese hackers targeted 23 U.S. natural
gas pipeline operators. This uptick in malicious attacks cannot go unchallenged.

 

President Biden responded to the Russian hack in April by imposing new
sanctions on Russia. By contrast, the Administration merely condemned China for
its hacking campaigns, yet stopped short of taking punitive measures against
Beijing to deter future hacks. I believe the President should impose sanctions
on China just as he did with Russia. Hackers will not stop their behavior until
they begin to feel painful consequences.

 

The President should also make cyber defense a top priority for the military.
Although our Armed Forces are unmatched in war capabilities, our generals have
repeatedly warned we are behind when it comes to cyber defense. Given this
need, the President should devote more resources to U.S. Cyber Command to make
up for lost ground. This will be made easier when Congress passes the annual
defense reauthorization bill, which I recently helped pass out of the Armed
Services Committee. This bill will authorize new investments in cyber security
to protect our nation from debilitating hacks in the future. We cannot afford
to remain vulnerable to lawless hackers who wish to do us harm.

 

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Thank you for your support,

Senator Roger Wicker

 

 

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