Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has activated the National Guard to respond to a severe cyberattack that has crippled the City of Saint Paul since Friday. The attack on Minnesota’s capital city has caused widespread disruptions to digital services and critical systems, prompting an unprecedented cybersecurity response.
## Attack Impact and Response
The cyberattack has significantly disrupted city operations, though emergency services remain functional. Citizens are currently unable to make online payments, and several services at libraries and recreation centers are temporarily unavailable. City officials warn that many services may experience delays due to limited system access.
“While many city services remain available, some may be temporarily delayed or disrupted due to limited system access,” the city stated, asking for public patience as they work to restore full functionality.
## Escalation to National Guard
The decision to deploy National Guard cyber protection support came after the attack’s complexity overwhelmed both internal and commercial response capabilities. Governor Walz signed an emergency executive order on Tuesday, acknowledging that Saint Paul’s incident response capacity had been exceeded.
“St. Paul officials have been working around the clock since discovering the cyberattack, closely coordinating with Minnesota Information Technology Services and an external cybersecurity vendor,” the emergency order stated. “Unfortunately, the scale and complexity of this incident exceeded both internal and commercial response capabilities.”
## Collaborative Recovery Effort
The Minnesota National Guard’s cyber forces are now working alongside city, state, and federal officials to resolve the situation and minimize lasting impacts. This multi-level response aims to ensure continuity of vital services for Saint Paul’s 311,000 residents while maintaining public security and safety.
“We are committed to working alongside the City of Saint Paul to restore cybersecurity as quickly as possible,” Governor Walz announced. “The Minnesota National Guard’s cyber forces will collaborate with city, state, and federal officials to resolve the situation and mitigate lasting impacts.”
The attack represents a significant cybersecurity incident affecting Minnesota’s second-largest city, highlighting the growing threat cyber attacks pose to municipal infrastructure and the need for robust emergency response protocols.