In the wake of recent cybersecurity breaches by the Chinese hacker group Salt Typhoon, U.S. Senators Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) have called for a formal investigation into the Department of Defense’s (DoD) failure to secure its communications. The senators, in a letter to the Department of Defense’s Inspector General, raised concerns over the Pentagon’s lack of end-to-end encryption for its unclassified voice, video, and text communications. They emphasized that this vulnerability leaves the DoD susceptible to foreign espionage and undermines national security.
The senators also criticized the DoD for not leveraging its significant purchasing power as one of the largest buyers of wireless services in the U.S. to require stronger cybersecurity protections from wireless carriers. They argued that despite its role as a major customer, the department has not mandated adequate cyber defenses or accountability from the companies it contracts with. The letter underscores the need for the DoD to take a more proactive stance in ensuring its communications are secure, particularly as threats from foreign adversaries continue to escalate.
Schmitt and Wyden also pointed out that the DoD has not conducted independent cybersecurity audits of the phone carriers that support its networks. The department reportedly lacks the authority to carry out these reviews, which further compounds the problem. The senators emphasized that these security lapses are not the fault of lower-level procurement officials but reflect broader failures in leadership at the highest levels of the DoD, which has not prioritized cybersecurity.
The call for investigation comes shortly after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) admitted their struggles to expel the Salt Typhoon group, despite months of trying. The senators’ letter highlights the urgency of addressing communication security vulnerabilities at the DoD, especially as national security becomes increasingly reliant on secure, encrypted communications. The Biden administration is scheduled to brief the Senate on the Salt Typhoon hacks, underlining the growing concern over the impact of these cyberattacks on U.S. defense systems.
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