Caroline Palmer
In a timely conversation hosted by the Center for the National Interest in partnership with George Mason University’s National Security Institute (NSI) on April 23, Jamil Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director of NSI, joined policymakers and cybersecurity experts to unpack what may be one of the most consequential digital breaches in U.S. history. The event, titled “Cracks in the Network: Cybersecurity Failures, SALT Typhoon, and U.S. Cyber Leadership,” brought together leading voices from Congress, industry, and academia to explore the growing challenges facing U.S. cyber defenses—both from external adversaries and internal vulnerabilities.
Kicking off the session, Representative Jim Himes (D-CT-4), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, provided a frank, bipartisan look at the state of U.S. cybersecurity. He emphasized the need for legislative renewal and a cautious yet determined approach to managing threats like those posed by state-backed actors. Rep. Himes’ remarks served as a sobering reminder that while the U.S. has made strides in cyber readiness, deep institutional challenges remain—particularly when it comes to attracting and retaining top talent within the government and maintaining a functional public-private cyber partnership.
The panel discussion that followed included cybersecurity veterans from Microsoft, TAG Cyber, and the National Security Institute, each offering distinct perspectives on the scope and consequences of the 2024 SALT Typhoon breach—a Chinese cyber-espionage campaign that reportedly infiltrated U.S. telecommunications networks—which raised urgent questions about the resilience of government surveillance systems and critical infrastructure against state-sponsored cyber-espionage.
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