Officials with the Department of Homeland Security told members of Congress on Wednesday that there are "evolving and emerging" security risks at U.S. ports. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Department of Homeland Security officials told members of Congress on Wednesday that there are "evolving and emerging" security risks at U.S. ports

  • At a House Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security hearing, Republicans called for more measures to safeguard ports from potential Chinese cyber security threats

  • Florida Rep. Carlos Giménez, who chairs the subcommittee, pushed for the federal government to do more to ensure cybersecurity at port facilities

  • Giménez has introduced legislation to limit the "operation of foreign cranes and software" at ports over concerns about the equipment being manufactured by Chinese companies

At a House Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security hearing, Republicans called for more measures to safeguard ports from potential Chinese cyber security threats.

Florida Rep. Carlos Giménez, who chairs the subcommittee, says the nation's 361 commercial ports are a critical part of the U.S. economy. He pushed for the federal government to do more to ensure cybersecurity at port facilities.

"Maritime ports presents soft targets to our adversaries, and large-scale operational disruptions at a major port could have a debilitating effect on our country," he said during his opening remarks. "Therefore, it is critical that we understand and address the security vulnerabilities at our maritime ports." 

Giménez has introduced legislation to limit the "operation of foreign cranes and software" at ports over concerns about the equipment being manufactured by Chinese companies. 

A Coast Guard spokesperson says it has systems in place to take a look at potential vulnerabilities and disruptions when it comes to foreign manufactured equipment. 

"At the national level, I've had ... conversations with leadership, with port authorities around the country to make sure they're aware of the potential vulnerabilities and get a better understanding of the potential impacts that those vulnerabilities may have," said Coast Guard Rear Admiral Wayne R. Arguin Jr., Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy.

Another DHS official called the possibility of Chinese cyber aggression a serious issue.

"We are acutely concerned by the risk of Chinese cyber aggression targeting our nation's critical infrastructure," said Eric Goldstein, executive assistant director for cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. "It is that focus that catalyzes our priority, and that drives our investment in this critical area." 

Some Democrats on the committee downplayed some of the Republicans' concerns as overblown.

"While we should take port security as a critical issue we should discuss, and seriously, it's important to remember that there is no foreign power that can somehow infiltrate our terminals and shut down our ports as it relates to automated cranes," said California Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia.

The American Association of Port Authorities has also downplayed the possibility of Chinese cranes posing a national security threat.

In March, it put out a statement saying in part, "There have been no known security breaches as the result of any cranes at U.S. ports."