Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senator Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., are demanding an investigation into the Pentagon’s failure to protect its communication systems from foreign spies. This call for action comes in the wake of the recent "Salt Typhoon" hack, orchestrated by Chinese government hackers, which targeted major telecom companies.
In a letter addressed to Department of Defense (DOD) Inspector General Robert Storch, Wyden and Schmitt raised concerns about the inadequate security measures implemented by the DOD to safeguard its communication channels from espionage. The senators disclosed that despite being aware of the vulnerabilities in the networks of phone companies, the DOD went ahead and signed a lucrative contract worth up to $2.7 billion this year for wireless phone services for U.S. military personnel.
The recent breach by Chinese government hackers, confirmed by the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, exposed the sensitive call information of high-profile individuals such as President-elect Trump, Vice President-elect Vance, and Senate Majority Leader Schumer, among others. This breach underscores the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity protocols within the DOD.
In their letter to Inspector General Storch, Wyden and Schmitt emphasized the critical need for end-to-end encryption technology to safeguard unclassified voice, video, and text communications within the DOD. They also pointed out that despite being one of the largest consumers of wireless telephone services in the U.S., the DOD has failed to leverage its purchasing power to ensure that wireless carriers implement robust cyber defenses.
Wyden and Schmitt highlighted several distressing revelations in their letter regarding the DOD’s lax approach to protecting soldiers and civilian employees who rely on wireless phone networks. Firstly, the DOD requested copies of independent cybersecurity audits commissioned by phone carriers for their networks, but the carriers refused to disclose them citing attorney-client privilege. Secondly, the DOD is still determining whether it has the authority to conduct its own cybersecurity audits of carriers serving the Pentagon. Lastly, in August, the DOD dismissed concerns about unencrypted phone lines posing a security risk and opted not to ban the use of unencrypted phone lines by DOD personnel.
The senators are urging Inspector General Storch to thoroughly investigate the DOD’s failure to secure its communications and recommend policy changes that will effectively shield DOD communications from foreign adversaries. This is a critical step towards ensuring the safety and security of vital communication channels within the Department of Defense.
For the full letter addressed by Wyden and Schmitt to Inspector General Storch, click here.
This call for action underscores the pressing need for robust cybersecurity measures within the DOD to prevent future breaches and protect sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands. The outcome of the investigation will shed light on the extent of the vulnerabilities within the DOD’s communication systems and pave the way for a more secure and resilient defense infrastructure.