Security tightened at the U.S. Congressional Budget Office following a cyber incident

On October 24, 2023, the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) was the victim of a cyberattack. Specifically, the official report states that on November 6, the agency publicly acknowledged that its systems had been compromised by an unidentified actor, potentially allowing access to sensitive government data.

The CBO's infrastructure was compromised by the cyberattack, which impacted its operational capacity for a brief period. Although no specific details were released about the scope of the attack or whether sensitive data was leaked, the Congressional Budget Office maintained that the attackers did not gain access to critical information about the federal budget. In response to this incident, the CBO has implemented new security measures, including strengthening intrusion protection and adopting best practices in data management. The CBO also collaborated with cybersecurity entities to investigate the attack and mitigate any risk of future incidents.

Currently, the CBO has stated that its systems have been restored and that there has been no significant loss of information. Although investigations are ongoing, those responsible for the attack have not been identified, nor has the specific type of cyberattack that took place been detailed. This incident highlights the vulnerability of government agencies to cyber threats and could lead to increased efforts at the federal level to improve digital security across all government sectors.