Cybersecurity experts caution Congress that a government shutdown will leave room for cyberattacks to occur without restraint.

On Tuesday, leading cybersecurity experts cautioned members of the House that a government shutdown would leave U.S. agencies vulnerable to a surge of fresh cyberattacks, potentially harming the Biden administration’s ability to respond effectively.

Executives from top cybersecurity companies told the House Homeland Security Committee that any shutdown would hamper the Biden administration’s ability to respond to dangerous digital attacks.

Brian Gumbel, President of Armis, stated that a shutdown will result in delays and the abrupt cessation of certain cyber projects.

“I cannot reword”

Federal authorities are currently addressing a cyberattack associated with China that affected the Commerce and State departments earlier this year. They are also dealing with the possibility of a government shutdown later this year.

Steven Zakowicz, the Vice President of CGI Federal, a company that collaborates with the Commerce Department, has observed how past government shutdowns have negatively impacted cyber defenses.

He stated that shutdowns hinder the ability to plan for continuity and impede the progress of the government’s cyber defenders in preventing hacks.

CrowdStrike’s Robert Sheldon similarly told Congress to expect bad results if the government shutters.

“If there is a lack of funding, it could disrupt the continuity of your cybersecurity programs, and without that, you cannot achieve positive cybersecurity outcomes,” stated Mr. Sheldon.

However, a short-term funding measure to delay a shutdown until a consensus is reached on government expenditures may also result in unfavorable consequences.

Intrusion co-founder Joe Head said Congress needs to develop ways to fund new cyber programs and responses to new digital breaches while operating under stopgap spending legislation.

Mr. Head informed legislators that the temporary legislation does not allow for the initiation of new cyber initiatives. He emphasized the importance of government cybersecurity personnel addressing emerging threats on a daily basis.

Mr. Head expressed that everything is constantly changing. Each day brings new breaches, zero-day vulnerabilities, and attacks.

Armis, CGI Federal, and CrowdStrike are all involved in collaborations with the federal government, which suggests that they have the potential to gain financial advantages from future taxpayer expenditures for the agencies they serve.

Regardless of whether the federal government was operational, President Biden has faced severe cyber attacks that have impacted both the government and private sector.

For example, a China-linked breach hitting Microsoft customers ripped through the Commerce and State departments, and its known victims include one lawmaker, Rep. Don Bacon, Nebraska Republican.

The Cyber Safety Review Board of the Department of Homeland Security is currently investigating the Microsoft hack, and any findings could potentially lead to modifications in the government’s approach to collaborating with private companies.

The FBI is encouraging private companies to involve federal agents in their efforts to fight against hackers, as federal investigators continue to investigate the matter. FBI Director Christopher A. Wray stated on Monday that he was asking companies to not only create incident-response plans but also to include the FBI as a component of those plans.

“I cannot reword”