Energy secretary: Adversaries have capability of shutting down US power grid

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm (D)  said on Sunday that adversaries of the U.S. have the capability of shutting down the country’s power grid. 

“Yes, they do,” she said on CNN’s “State of the Union” when asked if U.S. adversaries had such a capability. 

“I think that there are very malign actors who are trying. Even as we speak, there are thousands of attacks on all aspects of the energy sector and the private sector, generally,” Granholm added. “It’s happening all the time. And this is why the private sector and the public sector have to work together.” 

Granholm also told host Jake Tapper that President Biden is working with other countries to fight cyberattacks.

“He’s working with our allies. He’s working with countries around the world, because other countries, even Russia, they don’t want to see their sectors attacked by malign actors, by rogue non-state actors, not to mention state actors,” Granholm told Tapper.  

“So, working with other countries, working with the private sector, working inside of our own government — the president has issued these executive orders to make sure that our own house is in order — making sure that citizens are able to protect themselves.” 

She added that she is opposed to companies paying ransom for cyber criminals.

“The bottom line is, people, whether you’re private sector, public sector, whatever, you shouldn’t be paying ransomware attacks, because it only encourages the bad guys.” 

The CEO of Colonial Pipeline confirmed publicly last month that the company paid the hackers behind an attack $4.4 million so it could regain access to its systems.