A Senate bipartisan duo is urging President Trump to take action to combat the threat of cyberattack by Russia after reports showed the country had tried to bring down the U.S. electric grid last year.
Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, the top Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined with South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham on Wednesday in sending a letter to the White House over concerns “about Russia’s capabilities with respect to cyberattacks on our energy infrastructure.”
“We believe the federal government needs to take stronger action prioritizing cybersecurity of energy networks and fighting cyber aggression to match your Department of Energy’s outward facing commitment,” the letter continued.
Cantwell has sent a number of letters to the White House over the past year on the risks posed by cyberattacks to the nation’s energy infrastructure, but this is the first time a prominent Republican has joined her.
The letter follows reports that Russian hackers gained access to the U.S. electrical grid last year, Department of Homeland Security officials said Monday.
[Previous coverage: Experts say the US power grid is secure as Russia escalates the cyber war]
Officials said the hackers were working for Russia and could have caused a black out. They said Russia has a long-running campaign to gain access to the U.S. electricity system.
The hackers “got to the point where they could have thrown switches” and disrupted the grid, said Jonathan Homer, a senior grid analyst with the Department Homeland Security.
