Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden has asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and three other lawmakers to support legislation that would permit the U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms to secure the personal accounts and devices of senators and their staff from hacking.Sen. Wyden explained in a letter dated Sept. 19 that the SAA was legally prohibited from using public funds to provide protection for electronics and accounts that were not issued by the government.
Wyden’s office learned of this restriction after the sergeant at arms refused to help several senators and senate employees when their private emails were attacked by foreign agents.
Wyden insisted that, with the November elections fast approaching, and in light of the continuing cyber threat posed by foreign actors, “[this] approach must change to keep up with changing world realities.â€
Wyden went on to call on Sen. McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, Sen. Roy Blunt and Sen. Amy Klobuchar to “support legislation that I am introducing to permit the SAA to provide cybersecurity assistance to senators and staff, on an opt-in basis, for their personal devices and accounts.â€
