Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Apr 3: The Federal Bureau of Investigation has classified a suspected Chinese cyber intrusion into a government surveillance system as a “major incident,” raising serious concerns over U.S. national security.

According to officials familiar with the matter, the breach compromised sensitive domestic law enforcement data, prompting the FBI to brief lawmakers on the issue. The agency, along with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, declined to comment publicly.

Under U.S. federal law, a cyberattack is designated a “major incident” only when it involves exposure of personally identifiable information that could cause significant harm to national security, foreign relations, or public safety.

Sources indicated the intrusion bore similarities to the Salt Typhoon operation uncovered in 2024, one of the largest intelligence breaches in U.S. history. That campaign infiltrated multiple telecom providers, accessed call records of millions of Americans, and even compromised FBI wiretap systems governed under the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act.

Despite global scrutiny following earlier incidents, experts say China-linked actors continue to aggressively target U.S. infrastructure and intelligence systems. Senator Mark Warner warned that such breaches reflect a persistent pattern of adversaries exploiting vulnerabilities in American cyber defences.

Former officials also expressed concern that reductions in cybersecurity staffing across federal agencies may be weakening the country’s ability to respond to increasingly sophisticated threats.

The latest breach underscores growing alarm in Washington over repeated cyber intrusions and the evolving tactics of state-backed hacking groups targeting critical U.S. systems.