The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs’ Ranking Member Tim Scott and House Financial Services Committee Vice Chair French Hill sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen seeking a detailed briefing on a China state-sponsored cybersecurity incident at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, following Treasury’s disclosure of the breach to the congressional committees on 1 January 2025. The letter raises concerns about Treasury’s protocols for safeguarding sensitive federal government information. The requested briefing, due by 10 January 2025, is to cover the incident’s specifics including when and how it occurred and which China-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat actor was responsible, the type and extent of information accessed, and whether Treasury was aware of relevant vulnerabilities linked to software services provided by BeyondTrust or other third-party providers. It also seeks detail on the steps Treasury has taken and plans to take to prevent a recurrence, noting Treasury’s holdings of highly sensitive information including tax data, business beneficial ownership information, and suspicious activity reports. The lawmakers asked Treasury to provide the briefing by no later than 10 January 2025.
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs 2025-01-02
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs ranking member and House Financial Services vice chair demand Treasury briefing on China-sponsored cyber breach
U.S. Senate Banking Committee's Ranking Member Tim Scott and House Financial Services Vice Chair French Hill have requested a briefing from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on a China state-sponsored cybersecurity incident at the Treasury Department. The briefing will cover the responsible Advanced Persistent Threat actor, accessed information, and Treasury's preventive measures. Concerns focus on safeguarding sensitive federal information, including tax data and business ownership details.