Chinese Hackers Breached Emails of US House Committee Staff, Report Says

U.S. congressional offices are once again grappling with a cyber-espionage incident after investigators uncovered unauthorized access to email systems used by staff supporting several key House of Representatives committees, according to people familiar with the matter cited by the Financial Times.

The activity has been attributed by U.S. officials to a hacking group known as Salt Typhoon, which is believed to focus on intelligence collection rather than disruption. The compromised accounts were used by aides working on committees dealing with China, foreign policy, national security and the armed services. Officials are still determining how deep the intrusion went and whether any lawmakers’ communications were accessed.

The breach was reportedly detected in December, triggering a review of congressional email security. Authorities have not publicly disclosed how long the attackers may have had access or what information may have been viewed or copied.

China’s embassy in Washington rejected the allegations, with a spokesperson dismissing them as speculative and unsubstantiated. The Federal Bureau of Investigation declined to comment, and neither the White House nor the House committees involved issued immediate statements.

The incident adds to a growing list of cyber events involving U.S. legislative institutions. In recent months, Senate offices were warned of a separate cyber incident involving communications with the Congressional Budget Office, and previous investigations have revealed attempts by foreign-linked hackers to monitor senior U.S. political figures.

Salt Typhoon has long been viewed by U.S. intelligence agencies as a persistent espionage threat. The group has been accused of conducting wide-ranging surveillance operations, including attempts to gather telecommunications data and intercept sensitive conversations involving government officials. Beijing has consistently denied involvement in such activities.

Earlier this year, U.S. authorities imposed sanctions on individuals and entities alleged to be connected to the group, citing national security concerns. The latest disclosure is expected to intensify scrutiny of how congressional offices secure digital communications, particularly as geopolitical tensions continue to spill into cyberspace.