President Trump blames Minnesota's incompetence for water system cyberattacks while officials suspect Iranian hackers
The administration announced that cyberattacks have targeted municipal water systems in at least seven states, with some activity degrading water operations and forcing utilities to issue boil-water notices. While federal agencies like the FBI and EPA are investigating the origins of the coordinated attacks, President Trump expressed skepticism regarding the common theory that Iran is responsible. During a Friday Cabinet meeting at Camp David, President Trump stated that he blames the state of Minnesota for the breaches, calling the state's leadership "grossly incompetent" and suggesting that Governor Tim Walz is responsible for the issues. Governor Walz responded by defending his state's response and criticizing the president's lack of a clear plan to win the war with Iran. He also noted that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reduced the resources of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which he claims left the U.S. exposed to cyber threats. Meanwhile, cybersecurity experts continue to monitor the situation as investigators work to confirm if Iranian actors are the culprits behind the recent infrastructure disruptions.
Sources
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A brief timeline of Iranian cyberattacks on U.S. companies, political figures, water systems and more
cbsnews.com
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Hackers targeted municipal water systems in 7 states this week, FBI says
NBC News
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Fact check: Trump baselessly claims Walz is ‘behind’ cyberattack, repeats debunked claims at Cabinet meeting
CNN
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Trump blames governor, not Iran, for Minnesota cyberattack
USA Today