The Environmental Protection Agency said it is planning to establish a new cybersecurity task force that will help the U.S. water system thwart cyberattacks from foreign governments.
EPA officials warned that cyberattacks have already hit some U.S. water systems from countries such as China and Iran and that it was crucial state governments improve their cyberdefenses.
The new initiative is expected to identify the most serious weaknesses in the country’s water security, but officials said even minor adjustments and updates can help limit or prevent the attacks.
“The Biden Administration has built our national security approach on the foundational integration of foreign and domestic policy, which means elevating our focus on cross-cutting challenges like cybersecurity,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement. “We’ve worked across the government to implement significant cybersecurity standards in our nation’s critical infrastructure, including in the water sector, as we remain vigilant to the risks and costs of cyber threats. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the EPA to bolster the cybersecurity of America’s water and wastewater systems.”
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency claimed more than 150,000 water systems nationwide are now vulnerable to cyberattacks from multiple players, including ransomware gangs and hackers looking to gather customer information, but the most serious threat is still from foreign governments that could damage key water infrastructure.
The new task force comes after two recent attacks spooked Biden officials, including when one attack targeted equipment at dozens of water facilities in November and wrote anti-Israel messaging on the equipment, which the Biden administration believes was done by Iran.
The other attack was believed to have been orchestrated by China and poses a real threat if U.S.-Chinese relations deteriorate to the point of conflict. Officials are also concerned future attacks could affect Americans’ ability to drink water.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“Drinking water and wastewater systems are a lifeline for communities, but many systems have not adopted important cybersecurity practices to thwart potential cyberattacks,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. “EPA and NSC take these threats very seriously and will continue to partner with state environmental, health, and homeland security leaders to address the pervasive and challenging risk of cyberattacks on water systems.”
EPA officials will meet with state environmental and health and homeland security secretaries virtually on Thursday to emphasize every state’s need to take immediate action to shield themselves from attacks and highlight current federal and state efforts to promote cybersecurity practices in the water sector.