In The News: The cyber threat is already here. It’s time to answer the wake-up call.
July 22, 2026
By Congressman Vince Fong
In June, an Iranian-linked hacker group allegedly targeted water systems in Bakersfield, Visalia and Chico.
Think about that for a moment.
Not a major financial hub. Not Silicon Valley. Infrastructure in the heart of California’s Central Valley that serves our families, farmers and businesses.
Thankfully, no water production or delivery systems were compromised. But it is a stark reminder that America’s critical infrastructure is increasingly in the crosshairs, and the cyber threats of tomorrow are already here.
Since the beginning of the Iran conflict, cyberattacks increased 245%. Additionally, last year marked an 89% increase in AI-enabled cyberattacks. The reality is clear — AI is fundamentally reshaping the cyber battlefield.
AI can identify weaknesses, analyze systems and accelerate cyber operations at a speed that was unimaginable just a few years ago. As adversaries gain access to these capabilities, we must ensure America’s defenders have the most advanced tools available to protect our critical infrastructure.
Earlier this year, I participated in one of the first congressional briefings on Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Preview, one of the most advanced AI models ever developed. What we saw was sobering.
Mythos autonomously uncovered previously unknown security vulnerabilities in major operating systems and web browsers. One flaw had remained hidden in a widely used system for 27 years. Another survived more than five million automated tests without detection.
American AI labs assess that China is only months behind in developing comparable capabilities. That window is closing quickly, and the implications for our critical infrastructure are profound.