Bipartisan Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Bolster Water System Protections Against Hackers

A growing concern for the nation's water systems has led to a bipartisan effort in Congress, with lawmakers introducing a bill aimed at bolstering protections against foreign hackers. The Water Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, authored by Senators Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), seeks to enhance cybersecurity measures for public water systems, which have become increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks.

"In Arizona, we know better than most the importance of safe and secure access to water. But adversaries also understand the importance and are increasingly trying to undermine our water security," said Gallego. "It is critical that we ensure our public water systems have the resources they need to prevent and respond to cyberattacks. That’s exactly what this bipartisan, commonsense bill does."

The bill would extend and expand a portion of the Safe Drinking Water Act, called the Drinking Water Infrastructure Risk and Resilience Program, to provide technical assistance and grants to community water systems that can be used for training and guidance on cyberattack protections and responses.

A Growing Threat: Chinese Hackers Behind Major US Cyberattacks

Just months after China admitted behind closed doors that it was responsible for a series of attacks on U.S. infrastructure, lawmakers are introducing legislation to bolster protections against foreign hackers. A recent report by the Wall Street Journal revealed that Chinese officials connected the cyberattacks on U.S. ports, airports, utilities, and other important targets to America’s support for Taiwan.

"Chinese officials also accused the U.S. of blaming China based on their imagination," said a source who spoke on condition of anonymity. The report noted that Biden administration officials learned of the attacks firsthand during a summit in Geneva, as their Chinese counterparts blamed the campaign, referred to as Volt Typhoon, on a criminal organization.

A State Department Spokesperson Reacts

"Chinese cyber threats are some of the gravest and most persistent threats to U.S. national security," said a State Department spokesperson. "The United States will continue to use all the tools at its disposal to safeguard U.S. critical infrastructure from irresponsible and reckless cyberattacks from Beijing."

A Growing Concern for Water Systems

The Biden administration has warned state leaders that cyberattacks by hackers linked to Iran and China could take down water systems across the U.S. if cybersecurity measures were not taken as a precaution. In January 2024, Russian hackers launched an attack on the water system in Muleshoe, Texas, causing tens of thousands of gallons of water to flow out of the town's water tower.

"The cybersecurity firm Mandiant attributed the attack on Muleshoe to Sandworm, which is believed to be connected to Russia's spy agency, the GRU," said former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The incident highlights the growing concern for water systems and the need for increased security measures.

A Bipartisan Effort to Protect America’s Water Systems

The bipartisan effort to introduce the Water Cybersecurity Enhancement Act is a step towards protecting America's water systems from foreign hackers. With the bill, lawmakers aim to enhance cybersecurity measures for public water systems and provide resources for training and guidance on cyberattack protections and responses.

"This bipartisan bill will strengthen our ability to protect essential services and support local water utilities in building stronger cyber defenses," said Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). The bill is a common-sense approach to addressing the growing threat of foreign hackers targeting America's water systems.