States plead for cybersecurity funds as hacking threat surges

Cash-short state and local governments are pleading with Congress to send them funds to shore up their cybersecurity as hackers look to exploit the crisis by targeting overwhelmed government offices. 

Members of Congress have taken notice of cyber threats at the state and local level, both before and during the pandemic, and efforts are underway to address the challenges, though how much will be provided is uncertain amid a fight over the amount of additional coronavirus stimulus. 

For Atlanta’s top cybersecurity official, any funds cannot come soon enough. 

“We would love and welcome more funding from the federal government as our digital infrastructure is just expanding and it’s going to expand even more because of this,” Gary Brantley, the chief information officer for the city of Atlanta, told The Hill. 

Brantley said that coronavirus-related attacks have become an issue for his office, particularly those targeted at his office through malicious phishing emails.