Committee Leaders Call for Continued Diligence by NASA After GAO Outlines Cybersecurity Risks
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) cybersecurity requirements in its spacecraft development contracts. The report, which is the first in a set of GAO reviews on NASA cybersecurity issues being carried out in response to a 2021 request by Science Committee leaders, highlights potential actions that NASA could take to shore up its cybersecurity posture. In the report GAO states, “a cyber incident could result in loss of mission data, decreased lifespan or capability of space systems, or the loss of control of space vehicles.”
Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK), Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX), and Space and Aeronautics Ranking Member Eric Sorensen (D-IL) made the following statement:
“This GAO review in response to a bipartisan request on cybersecurity and its implications for NASA’s major projects comes at an important time,” said the Members. “As NASA advances its many missions, including Artemis, we must ensure they remain appropriately secure from malicious actors. The potential cyber threats to NASA efforts are extremely serious, and the risks GAO identifies in their report must be appropriately mitigated. We cannot afford to let cyber-attackers in the door on the ground or in our space systems. We look forward to working with NASA as they respond to the report and ensure that NASA missions have robust cybersecurity risk postures.”
The list of report requesters includes:
Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK)
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Brian Babin (R-TX)
Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Eric Sorensen (D-IL)
Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA)
Related Subcommittees
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