The bill drafting office of the New York state Legislature encountered an apparent cyberattack, causing the bill drafting system to be offline since early Wednesday. Although the extent of the attack remains unclear, the disruption comes at a critical time as the Legislature works on finalizing state budget bills. Governor Kathy Hochul assured that while the incident may necessitate a return to older systems, it is not anticipated to significantly hinder the budget process.
Governor Hochul, addressing the situation in a WNYC radio interview, indicated that the cyberattack occurred in the early hours of the morning, prompting swift response efforts. Despite the setback, efforts are underway to manage the legislative side of the budget process, albeit with expected delays due to the reliance on computer systems for data management. However, Hochul refrained from attributing the attack to any specific motive, stating uncertainty regarding its political nature.
Mike Murphy, a spokesperson for the leader of the state Senate, reassured that the bill drafting office can still process work for the houses, minimizing concerns about an extensive delay in the overall legislative process. While the incident raises concerns about cybersecurity vulnerabilities in government systems, officials are focused on resolving the disruption and ensuring the continuity of essential legislative functions.
