U.S. congressional offices are confronting another suspected cyber-espionage incident after investigators discovered unauthorized access to email accounts used by staff supporting several key committees of the US House of Representatives, according to people familiar with the matter cited by the Financial Times.
U.S. officials have attributed the activity to a hacking group known as Salt Typhoon, which is believed to focus on intelligence collection rather than disruptive attacks. The compromised accounts reportedly belonged to aides working on committees overseeing China, foreign policy, national security, and the armed services. Authorities are still assessing the scope of the breach and whether any lawmakers’ communications were accessed.
The intrusion was detected in December, prompting a broader review of congressional email security. Officials have not disclosed how long the attackers may have maintained access or what data may have been viewed or exfiltrated.
China’s embassy in Washington rejected the allegations, describing them as speculative and lacking evidence. The Federal Bureau of Investigation declined to comment, while neither the White House nor the affected House committees issued immediate statements.
The incident adds to a growing series of cyber events targeting U.S. legislative institutions. In recent months, Senate offices were warned of separate compromises involving communications with the Congressional Budget Office. U.S. intelligence agencies have long viewed Salt Typhoon as a persistent espionage threat, accused of monitoring sensitive government communications. The latest disclosure is expected to intensify scrutiny of how Congress secures its digital communications amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
