In a rare move, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz activated the state’s National Guard on Tuesday to help respond to a major cyberattack that shut down key digital systems in the city of St. Paul. The attack, described as a deliberate and coordinated effort by skilled hackers, has disrupted many city services since suspicious activity was first detected last Friday.
The cyberattack forced city officials to shut down critical computer systems to prevent further damage. Services like online payments, library checkouts, and even emergency reporting systems have been affected. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter called it one of the most serious cyber incidents ever to hit a U.S. city.
National Guard Steps In
This is one of the first times the Minnesota National Guard’s cyber protection unit has been called in to help during a digital emergency. Their role includes helping restore systems and figuring out what data may have been stolen or damaged. The state has also declared an official emergency, allowing for a faster response from both state and federal agencies.
Internet access in public buildings remains offline, and multiple government departments are now working with the FBI and other federal cybersecurity experts to investigate the attack.
How the Attack Is Affecting Residents
The impact on daily life in St. Paul has been significant. With many systems offline, the city has shifted to manual processes. Residents can no longer make utility payments or apply for permits online. Libraries have gone back to paper-based checkouts, and while emergency services are still running, they are dealing with added pressure due to the limited digital support.
Experts believe the attack may be a form of ransomware—where hackers lock a system’s data and demand payment to unlock it—although this has not yet been confirmed. Signs of a ransomware-style attack, such as encrypted files and prolonged system outages, have been noted by cybersecurity professionals online.
A Wake-Up Call for Cybersecurity
Governor Walz’s decision to involve the military in a cyber issue shows how serious and complex these types of attacks have become. According to early reports, the city’s cybersecurity systems detected the intrusion quickly, which allowed officials to shut things down before more damage was done. Still, the full scope of what may have been stolen, including personal information, is still unknown.
Federal agencies, including the FBI, are now helping with the investigation. There is growing concern that the attack could be linked to foreign hackers, which would make this more than just a local issue—it could become a national security concern.
Gaps in Public Cyber Defenses
This incident highlights how vulnerable local governments can be to cyber threats. While private companies often invest heavily in security, many public systems are outdated or underfunded. Cybersecurity experts are studying the attack to learn how it was carried out and to help prevent similar breaches elsewhere.
Some experts are comparing this situation to the 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, which caused fuel shortages across the U.S. They say cities need stronger defenses, including better backups and quicker response plans. The St. Paul breach could lead to more investments in modern cybersecurity tools like AI-based monitoring and zero-trust systems.
Recovery and the Road Ahead
City officials are working on restoring digital services and have provided instructions for residents on how to access services in the meantime. There is no clear timeline yet for when everything will be back to normal, but the involvement of trained National Guard personnel is expected to speed up the process.
This cyberattack is a clear warning about how digital threats are evolving. It may influence future policies on whether cyberattacks should be treated as national defense issues, possibly changing how the government handles them in the future.
In short, the St. Paul cyberattack is a strong reminder that even cities need strong defenses in our increasingly digital world.
