Senators Markey and Blumenthal Statement on FAA Cybersecurity Lapses Revealed in New Inspector General Report

Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement after the Department of Transportation (DOT) Inspector General released a report today that said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) “has not completed a comprehensive, strategic policy framework to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks.” In November 2016, Senators Markey and Blumenthal sent a letter to the FAA calling on the agency to adopt robust regulations to ensure that aircraft and ground support equipment are not vulnerable to cyberattacks.

“When it comes to protecting our aircraft and aircraft systems from cybersecurity threats, the FAA has failed to man the controls and fully adopt sensible, meaningful cybersecurity protections,” said Senator Markey and Blumenthal. “We need to ensure our aircraft, ground support equipment, and operations and maintenance practices are protected from cyberattacks, but we are still at risk. As cybersecurity threats grow, the FAA needs to do its job as steward of our nation’s aviation safety and swiftly meet the Inspector General’s recommendations.”