Representative Troy Neals (R-Texas) is spearheading a push among House Republicans to urge FBI Director Kash Patel to take robust action against cybercriminals targeting health care systems. The warning is clear: ransomware attacks and data breaches pose significant risks to patient safety and national security.
The letter, shared exclusively with Breitbart News, includes contributions from Neals, Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), chair of the Republican Study Committee, along with Reps. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.), Sheri Biggs (R-S.C.), and others, including Ben Kline (R-Va.), Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), Lance Gooden (R-Texas), John Moolener (R-Mich.), and Brian Babin (R-Texas).
In their communication, lawmakers described the situation as a significant threat to essential health infrastructure and national security. They articulated that “cyberattacks against hospital systems and health care providers have escalated from being isolated incidents to a consistently escalating national security issue.”
The letter references statistics from the FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services, and industry sources, highlighting that since the introduction of federal breach reporting guidelines in 2009, over 5,000 major health data breaches have emerged, affecting more than 500 million patient records.
According to the lawmakers, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has continually identified healthcare as one of the most targeted sectors for ransomware incidents, with numerous reported attacks each year.
They further emphasized that in 2023, there were over 700 health data breaches involving more than 500 individuals, marking the peak for recorded breaches at that time. The correspondence indicated that ransomware complaints to the FBI surged from under 200 in 2015 to more than 2,800 by 2023.
“These aren’t victimless crimes,” they pointed out, arguing that cyberattacks can lead to system outages, postponed surgeries, redirected ambulances, and can seriously endanger patient safety, costing health systems millions.
Lawmakers commended the FBI’s “aggressive stance” on this threat, which includes efforts to dismantle international ransomware networks, many of which operate like ‘ransomware-as-a-service’ providers in safe havens abroad.
They also acknowledged Patel’s recent call for improved information sharing between healthcare providers and federal law enforcement. The letter stressed that “timely and transparent sharing of cyber threat intelligence is critical to identifying weaknesses and addressing attacks before they happen, which is vital for safeguarding both patient safety and national security.”
The lawmakers advocated for “continued collaboration between the FBI and the healthcare sector” via public-private partnerships, streamlined reporting procedures, and guidance to enable hospitals to engage in information-sharing without excessive burdens.
“For decades, our nation’s healthcare infrastructure has been under siege, and we must utilize every available resource to shield our hospital systems and healthcare providers from cyberattacks that threaten patient lives and lead to substantial financial losses,” Neals stated in an exclusive comment. “I am honored to lead a letter to FBI Director Patel, recognizing his recent efforts to tackle the evolving threats against our healthcare infrastructure and urging him to employ all necessary tools against these criminal organizations.”
“The danger to America’s healthcare framework is genuine and increasing, necessitating decisive action,” Pfluger commented. “The RSC proudly collaborates with Congressman Neals in supporting the FBI’s initiatives and calling for the comprehensive use of resources against these criminal entities.”
Finally, the lawmakers reaffirmed their dedication to backing policies and resources aimed at “enhancing cybersecurity resilience throughout the healthcare sector, fortifying interagency cooperation, and holding perpetrators accountable.”
