A Democratic senator said in a letter to Senate leaders Wednesday that foreign government hackers continue to target the personal accounts of U.S. senators and their aides.
Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.) expressed “serious concern” that the Senate’s security office “apparently lacks the authority” to protect U.S. senators and staff from “sophisticated” cyberattacks directed at their personal devices and accounts.
According to Wyden, his office discovered that “at least one major technology company” has warned an unspecified number of senators and aides that their personal accounts were “targeted by foreign government hackers.
The US Sergeant at Arms (SAA) cybersecurity personnel apparently refused to help senators and staff after these attacks, said Wyden, who also said the SAA told them it may not offer cybersecurity assistance for personal accounts.
“The SAA conformed to my office that it may only use appropriated funds to protect official government devices and accounts,” said Wyden.
The legislator said he is introducing legislation to address this problem and is canvassing for support, especially to permit the SAA to provide cybersecurity assistance to senators and staff.
