On February 2, Forward Defense and Rafik Hariri Center nonresident senior fellow Thomas Warrick was quoted in a Reuters report titled “Exclusive: Suspected Chinese hackers used SolarWinds bug to spy on US payroll agency.” The report outlines a suspected Chinese breach of the US Department of Agriculture’s National Financial Center, which handles the payroll and W-2 of many civilian Federal agencies. Warrick is quoted on the grave threat posed by such a breach to US national security.
Depending on what data were compromised, this could be an extremely serious breach of security … It could allow adversaries to know more about US officials, improving their ability to collect intelligence.
Forward Defense leads the Atlantic Council’s US and global defense programming, developing actionable recommendations for the United States and its allies and partners to compete, innovate, and navigate the rapidly evolving character of warfare. Through its work on US defense policy and force design, the military applications of advanced technology, space security, strategic deterrence, and defense industrial revitalization, it informs the strategies, policies, and capabilities that the United States will need to deter, and, if necessary, prevail in major-power conflict.
