Iran-linked hackers just broke into water systems across at least seven states—and LOCKED operators out of their own controls.
Trump responded by blaming Minnesota’s Democratic governor with no evidence.
Trump made the claim Friday at a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, on camera, while federal investigators were still working out whether Iranian hackers were responsible. “I don’t think there was an Iranian cyberattack. I think that Minnesota ought to get its act together,” he said. He called Tim Walz “the corrupt governor of Minnesota,” said the state was “grossly incompetent,” and added, “Iran should be so lucky.” He offered no evidence for any of it.
What investigators do have: more than 30 community water systems across Minnesota were targeted Sunday and Monday. The attackers went after programmable logic controllers, the devices operators use to monitor and control pumps and towers remotely, changing passwords to lock the operators out.
In Plymouth, a Minneapolis suburb, officials found compromised controllers at two water towers and 14 sewer lift stations and cut them off the cellular network Sunday evening. By just after midnight it was all hands on deck, public works director Michael Thompson said. “I think you never expect it to happen to you.”
In Braham, north of Minneapolis, crews noticed Monday that the well feeding the city’s water tower was malfunctioning. They isolated it, restored a backup and restarted the plant in about 90 minutes. Mayor Nate George said residents never lost service. South St. Paul ran its water and wastewater operations by hand.
Federal agencies warned Thursday that utilities in at least seven states had reported incidents, and that some of that activity degraded water operations.
The larger attacks have already led to boil water notices.