Cyber espionage by Chinese hackers
Chinese hackers breached the email systems of several committees in the US House of Representatives as part of the Salt Typhoon cyber espionage campaign that has been ongoing for several years. The breach was detected in December 2025 and affected the systems of employees from the committees on China, foreign affairs, intelligence, and armed services.
Investigation and national security threat
The Salt Typhoon campaign is linked to the Chinese Ministry of State Security, highlighting the seriousness and organization of these attacks. The Washington field office of the FBI has already initiated an investigation into the hacking attacks on more than 12 major American legal and technology firms, indicating the wide-reaching impact of these cyberattacks and their threatening nature to national security.
This situation raises concerns among American officials, as manifestations of cyber espionage can have serious consequences for state policy and international relations.
The breach of email systems in the US Congress and the associated cyberattacks underscore the growing threat of cyber espionage by state actors, which may influence strategic decisions in the US. The FBI investigation suggests that this issue goes beyond isolated incidents and has a systemic character. American authorities continue to monitor these threats to ensure national security and protect critical information from foreign influences.