RELEASE: After Attacks in Jersey, Gottheimer Announces Bipartisan Federal Actions to Protect Water, Electric Systems, and Families from Cyber Attacks

Resources / Press Share on RELEASE: After Attacks in Jersey, Gottheimer Announces Bipartisan Federal Actions to Protect Water, Electric Systems, and Families from Cyber Attacks Critical Infrastructure Security Plan Will Give Infrastructure Entities Access to Cutting-Edge AI Defenses, Create a Dedicated Cyber Rapid-Response Service, Help Restore Utilities Hit by Attacks Aug 12, 2026 Press Above: Gottheimer announces federal action to defend critical infrastructure. PARK RIDGE, NJ — Today, Wednesday, August 12, 2026, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced his bipartisan Critical Infrastructure Security Plan, a package of federal actions to bolster American critical infrastructure following a wave of attacks that targeted New Jersey municipal water systems and others in at least a dozen states across the country. Watch Gottheimer’s full remarks here . “Every morning, folks in this town wake up, turn on the faucet, and clean water comes out. You flip a switch and your lights come on. Nobody thinks twice about it. Nobody should have to,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I’m standing here because in towns just like this one, all over the country, that deal we have with our utility companies has been put in real jeopardy, and if we don’t get out ahead of it, it could mean a disaster.” Over the past two weeks, hackers have targeted water systems in New Jersey and at least a dozen other states. In Cape May County, two municipal systems were hit, forcing operators to manually turn valves and run pumps after the digital controls they rely on every day were wrenched away from them. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating incidents in at least seven states, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the FBI issued a joint advisory urging the entire water sector to immediately lock down its systems. Investigators have pointed to Iranian-affiliated actors, while examining whether other adversaries are copying the same playbook. There are roughly 150,000 public water systems in the country, and 97 percent of them serve small communities such as Park Ridge, often with just a handful of employees and no full-time cybersecurity team. Many were built decades ago for reliability, not for cybersecurity, leaving older controllers and outdated software exposed to anyone who knows where to look. Gottheimer announced three federal actions to close that gap: The bipartisan AI Cyber Defense Act , which he is introducing with Rep. Don Bacon (NE-2), Rep. Zach Nunn (IA-3), Rep. Hilary Scholten (MI-3), and Rep. Greg Landsman (OH-1) would give America’s critical infrastructure operators free access to the most powerful, cyber-capable AI models. Today those tools are mostly used by the people trying to break in, not the people trying to keep them out. The bill would let a small water utility in New Jersey use the same caliber of AI a foreign intelligence agency might deploy against it, and turn it around to find the open door before an adversary does and patch the vulnerability before it becomes a headline. The bipartisan Securing Our Critical Infrastructure Act , which he is introducing with Rep. Don Bacon (NE-2), Rep. Zach Nunn (IA-3), Rep. Hilary Scholten (MI-3), and Rep. Greg Landsman (OH-1) would create a dedicated rapid-response and threat notification service at CISA, built specifically for small and medium water and electric utilities. It would establish one clear point of contact to notify utilities the moment there is an active threat and give real support for the most resource-constrained systems. Gottheimer is also sending a letter to CISA, the EPA, and the FBI demanding they immediately surge incident response teams and technical assistance to every water and wastewater utility hit by this campaign, especially the small and rural systems that can least afford to go dark. The letter also calls on the agencies to build lasting protection for the water sector, including guidance specific to water systems and a standing rapid-response framework, before the next campaign hits. Gottheimer was joined by New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) Director Michael Geraghty, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, Bergen County Chief of Detectives Jeff Angermeyer, Senator Holly Schepisi (R-District 39), Park Ridge Mayor Keith Misciagna, Park Ridge Councilman Will Fenwick, and Park Ridge Councilman Bruce Goldsmith. Below: Gottheimer announces federal action to defend critical infrastructure. Gottheimer’s remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you to everyone here with us. I’m grateful for all of your work on the ground to protect our essential services. Thank you all for being here in Park Ridge, right in front of the tanks that serve drinking water to Park Ridge and nearby Woodcliff Lake. I’ve stood right here before when we announced steps the Park Ridge Water Department was taking to get lead and PFAS o