The Kremlin 'successfully penetrated' some state voter rolls in 2016, DHS cybersecurity chief says
Last September, the Department of Homeland Security informed 21 states that the Russian government had targeted their voter registration system before the 2016 election, and on Wednesday, the DHS's head of cybersecurity, Jeanette Manfra, told NBC News that of the 21 states, "an exceptionally small number of them were actually successfully penetrated." She did not name any of the states, since the report is classified, but she said she has "no doubt" it was the Russian government, not just Russians, behind the cyberattack.
The Homeland Security Department was charged with protecting America's electoral system in January 2017, when outgoing DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson designated it federally protected "critical infrastructure," like the electrical grid. NBC News reached out to the 21 targeted states, and five of them said they hadn't been attacked. Manfra said she stands by the list as a "snapshot in time with the visibility that the department had at that time." She also disagreed with Johnson's assessment that states aren't adequately preparing for the 2018 and 2020 elections. "I would say they have all taken it seriously," she said.
Some states told NBC News that the federal government had not told them about specific threats, citing classification issues — Manfra said state officials will get clearance soon — while other states did not want the feds involved in their voting system. Johnson told NBC News that such concerns are "naive" and "irresponsible to the people that [states are] supposed to serve."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
There is no evidence that Russia tampered with any voting rolls in the 2016 election, federal officials say. But in a new NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll, 79 percent of respondents said they were at least somewhat concerned that the U.S. electoral system is vulnerable to hacking.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The drive behind Germany's pro-Israel political consensus
Under the Radar Belief that Israel's security is a 'raison d'etre for the German republic' is under growing pressure
By The Week UK Published
-
'The House under GOP rule has become a hostile workplace'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal is about more than bad bets
In The Spotlight The firestorm surrounding one of baseball's biggest stars threatens to upend a generational legacy and professional sports at large
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds cap credit card late fees at $8
speed read The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to save households an estimated $10 billion a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Immigration helped the US economy outpace peers
speed read The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 3.2% last quarter
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
4-day workweek gets boost from UK study
Speed Read Following a six-month trial, the majority of participating British companies are still using the truncated schedule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sues to block Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The Federal Trade Commission sued to block the $24.6 billion merger between the grocery giants
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Nvidia sees historic stock rise on AI chips success
Speed Read U.S. chipmaker Nvidia achieved the biggest one-day increase in value of any company in history
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York may seize Trump's assets for $450M penalty
Speed Read The former president likely owes $600 million from two civil judgments in New York
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published