WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Jack Reed (D-RI), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following joint statement on the extensive cyber hack that breached the cyber networks of U.S. federal agencies and private companies:

“We have received initial information on the significant, sophisticated, and ongoing cybersecurity intrusion against the United States. We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to get updates.

“There is still much we don’t know about the massive cyber hack that breached U.S. cyber defenses, including federal agencies and major private sector companies. But we do know the cyber intrusion appears to be ongoing and has the hallmarks of a Russian intelligence operation. The U.S. government must do everything possible to counter it.

“One of the immediate steps the Administration can take to improve our cyber posture is signing the NDAA into law.

“This year’s National Defense Authorization Act provides critical tools and authorities to help defend against and disrupt malicious cyber activity and effectively hunt for threats and vulnerabilities on the federal cyber network. The bill ensures a coordinated response across the whole of government. The NDAA is always ‘must-pass’ legislation – but this cyber incident makes it even more urgent that the bill become law without further delay.”