Staff Reports
Federal cyber vulnerabilities are being laid bare as Chinese-linked hackers turn their sights on the United States, successfully breaching federal agencies and key infrastructure during the current administration’s watch. As the cyberattacks ramp up, it’s clear that the Biden administration continues to treat this crisis with a level of insouciance that would make even the most relaxed slacker cringe.
Since the beginning of 2023, the tech-savvy culprits associated with Beijing have infiltrated everything from federal officials to vital utility systems. Cybersecurity experts caution that essential systems are hanging by a flimsy thread, as these intrusions hold the potential for catastrophic consequences. With China asserting its ambitions over Taiwan, the pressure is mounting, suggesting that the threat from Beijing’s cybercriminals could be far more extensive than the Biden team has let on. It seems American officials are still busy monitoring TikTok rather than securing the nation’s digital borders.
How Chinese Hackers Graduated From Clumsy Corporate Thieves to Military Weapons
Massive ‘Typhoon’ cyberattacks on U.S. infrastructure and telecoms sought to lay groundwork for potential conflict with Beijing, as intruders gathered data and got in position to impede response and… pic.twitter.com/qJWWA6pE1j
— Amit Paranjape (@aparanjape) January 5, 2025
In a bright spot of honesty amid a sea of bureaucracy, cybersecurity expert Joseph Steinberg pointed out how deeply interconnected every facet of American life is nowadays. Hospitals, utilities—even your smart fridge—could be compromised by hackers who have become increasingly bold. When asked about the Biden administration’s handling of these cyber threats, Steinberg implied that their approach has been less than adequate, suggesting they simply have not taken this issue seriously enough. One can only imagine the eye rolls these experts endure while fielding questions about the latest TikTok dance craze instead of urgent cybersecurity measures.
Adding a bit more humor to the serious situation, it seems that the Biden administration’s policies aimed at reducing dependency on Chinese technology have not delivered the goods. The CHIPS Act, championed to bolster American self-sufficiency, has been so watered down with political horse-trading that it’s akin to serving weak tea when a robust cup of coffee is desperately needed. The result? A nation still tethered to cheap Chinese tech that’s about as secure as a revolving door in a bank.
Just when one might think the incompetence couldn’t get any more impressive, major hacks have turned the Treasury Department into Swiss cheese. Documents revealed that hackers with ties to China breached systems related to economic sanctions. Meanwhile, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, undeterred by the breach of her own emails, set off on a jaunt to China to chat with officials, presumably while wearing blinders to the gravity of the situation. This embarrassing episode only highlights the urgent need for a wake-up call—something beyond a gentle nudge—if the administration is ever to get its act together.
The alarming reality of these breaches isn’t shy about expressing its potential impact. Chinese hackers stand ready to launch attacks that could shut down U.S. ports and cripple segments of the energy grid. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan even warned that the enemies are already lurking within critical infrastructures. With such knowledge at his disposal, one must ponder whether the current leader is preparing for a diplomatic tête-à-tête or simply refusing to address a cyber crisis that could turn America into a digital battlefield before they can finish their next press briefing.
Amidst the chaos, it’s critical to recognize that the origins of these attacks are far older than 2023. Reports suggest that Chinese cyber espionage efforts took root years ago, targeting American infrastructure in potentially nefarious ways. What’s more disturbing is that these breaches might be part of a larger strategy to dismantle supply lines and thwart U.S. readiness in the event of an aggressive move against Taiwan. It sounds a bit like a spy novel plot, but this is the new world we live in where fiction looks awfully similar to reality—and conservatives have more than enough reason to sound the alarm.
