The email systems of the Library of Congress were compromised earlier this year by a foreign adversary, according to a report by Fox News. It is uncertain whether the hack affected accounts of individuals working directly for the House and Senate. The U.S. Capitol Police has escalated the issue to the FBI for investigation to determine the extent of the breach. Both Republican and Democratic offices in the House and Senate were notified by the Library of Congress about the breach.
A Library of Congress spokesman, Bill Ryan, revealed that the breach occurred between January and September 2024, allowing the adversary to access email communications between Library staff and congressional offices. The vulnerability that was exploited has been addressed, and steps have been taken to prevent future incidents. The matter has been reported to law enforcement, and an internal analysis of the breach is underway.
It is important to note that the networks of the House and Senate, as well as individual email accounts, were not compromised. The U.S. Copyright Office systems were also unaffected. The Library of Congress is currently determining the extent of the accessed email communications and plans to inform affected congressional staff and offices.
The hack is described as a sophisticated act of foreign adversary espionage, aimed at obtaining insight into the inquiries lawmakers and aides make to the Library of Congress regarding legislation. By understanding the questions asked and the responses provided, the hackers could gain valuable information on lawmakers’ perspectives on various issues.
Despite the breach, it appears that the hack did not extend to other Congressional systems beyond the Library of Congress. The decision to target the Library of Congress may have been influenced by its perceived vulnerability compared to the more advanced cybersecurity measures in place in other parts of Congress.
Attempts to obtain a comment from the FBI regarding the breach were unsuccessful. The incident was only disclosed to Fox News after senior Congressional officials prompted the sharing of information. If you have any story tips or ideas, you can contact writer Stepheny Price at stepheny.price@fox.com. Additionally, Chad Pergram, a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel, is based in Washington, D.C. and can be reached for further information.
