A hacking group linked to China has reportedly breached email systems used by staff on several influential committees in the US House of Representatives, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
The group, known as Salt Typhoon, is believed to have accessed the email systems of staff on China-related House committees, as well as aides to panels that handle foreign affairs, intelligence and the military services.
The identities of the staff involved have not been disclosed.
The breach was reportedly detected in December, but it is not yet clear whether lawmakers’ emails were also accessed in the attack. The report has not been independently verified.
The Chinese embassy has denied any involvement and described the allegations as baseless, while US authorities including the Federal Bureau of Investigation have declined to comment further.
US lawmakers and their aides, particularly those involved in overseeing military and intelligence agencies, are often the targets of cyber espionage operations. Hacking incidents or attempted intrusions have been reported periodically in recent years.
In November, several Congressional offices were notified of a cyber incident that potentially involved access to communications between the Congressional Budget Office and the Senate.
In 2023, US media reports revealed that several senior lawmakers were targeted in a hacking operation linked to Vietnam.
The Salt Typhoon group has previously been linked to activities such as collecting communications data on Americans, including intercepting phone conversations involving senior US politicians and government officials. Beijing has consistently denied any involvement in the cyber espionage activities.
Earlier last year, the United States imposed sanctions on individuals and cybersecurity companies allegedly involved in the Salt Typhoon operation.
