releases: https://www.menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/press/menendez-seeks-answers-about-russias-solarwinds-hack-on-state-department
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/press/menendez-seeks-answers-about-russias-solarwinds-hack-on-state-department | Menendez Seeks Answers about Russias SolarWinds Hack on State DepartmentRead More | 2020-12-23 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Robert Menendez | M000639 | www.menendez.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-N.J.)is calling on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to provide the Senate Foreign Relations Committee details ontheextent of the recent Russian-backed SolarWinds cyberattack targeting the State Department along with other federal agencies. In a new letter, the Senator formally requested a briefing for committee members on the security breachand the efforts that the State Department and the Trump administration are taking to mitigateitsimpacts and defend against future attacks. While several other cabinet agencies that are victims of this cybersecurity breach have publicly acknowledged having been attacked, to date the Department of State has been silent on whether its computer, communication and information technology systems were compromised,wrote Menendez. I know you share my concerns about the potential for damage that this attack presents to our nation and to the Department of State. I look forward to working with you to arrange for a briefing and a fuller discussion of these issues. Over the weekend, PresidentTrump contradictedSecretary Pompeo's earlier comments that it was pretty clear the Kremlin was behind the massive attack on federal agencies' computer networks. To date, the State Department has not joined other targeted federal agencies in providing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) authorities to address the underlying attack. Menendez concluded his letter with a number of questions to be answered during the briefing regarding the State Department's response to what could be the largest cyberattack on the United States, including the agency's cooperation thus far with other government elements. A copy of the letter can be foundHEREand below. Dear Mr. Secretary, I am writing to request a classified briefing for Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by appropriate senior Department officials on theRussian-backedSolarWindsbreach and the cyber infiltrationofU.S.government and privatesector systems and networksas soon as possible after the Senate reconvenes on January 4, 2021. It is critical that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee receive a briefing on theextent of the security breachand the efforts that the Department is taking to mitigateitsimpacts and defend against future attacks. Furthermore, it is essential that critical sectorswithinprivate industry and the American public more broadlyunderstand the nature of the threat that our nation faces from the Kremlin, and their persistent exploitation of cyberspace, theInternet, and social media for their malign ends. While several other cabinet agencies thatare victims of thiscybersecurity breachhavepubliclyacknowledgedhaving been attacked, to date the Department of State has been silent on whether its computer, communication and information technology systemswere compromised. FortheCommittee briefing I would therefore appreciate better understandingof: The Department's assessment of the nature,scope,design, and intent of thebreach, including those responsible for the operation;When the Department of State became aware of theSolarWinds breach, if theDepartment has experienced similar intrusions in 2019 or 2020,and whether any such hacks breached departmental systems;The Department's assessmentof what systems or materials thatmay have been compromised,including as it relates to theconfidentiality and integrity of data, mapped, exfiltrated,or otherwise placed at risk, andthestepsthat have been and will betaken to mitigate any such damage;Any on-going risk that cyber-intruders may stillpersistin any departmental systems, including on-going efforts to identify and expel any intrusions, andtomanage any potential damage or exposure;Any cooperation and coordination with other relevant USG agencies or offices to address the attack, identify attackers or breaches, conduct diagnostics,andrepair departmental systems, including by granting other appropriate elements of the USG access to departmental systems for such purposes;The steps the Department is taking to assess risks within the cybersecurity supply chain and any steps the Department considers necessary to mitigate those risks;An assessment of the breach of and risks tocyber physical devices;Any stepscurrently beingtakenor contemplatedto prevent future attacks; and,Foreign policy measures and diplomatic recommendations or other steps recommended or taken by the Department to respond totheSolarWindsbreachand to deter any future such attacks. Mr. Secretary, I know you share my concerns about the potential for damage that this attack presents to our nation and to the Department of State. I look forward to working with you to arrange for a briefing and a fuller discussion of these issues. With all the best for a safe, happy,and healthy new year. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |