Phillip Swagel, the director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), reassured members of the House Budget Committee on Tuesday morning that the agency had successfully contained a "sophisticated cyberattack" that occurred two weeks prior. This meeting marked Swagel’s first public comments about the incident.

Swagel emphasized that, following the extensive investigation which is still underway, there has been no further evidence of unauthorized access to CBO’s email systems. The CBO is collaborating closely with federal security partners and private cybersecurity experts to thoroughly examine the breach.

Discussing the specifics of the cyberattack, Swagel indicated that details about the nature of the threat and the identity of the attackers would be shared with lawmakers in a private setting to avoid compromising the ongoing investigation and remediation efforts. He assured the committee that the CBO was now functioning normally without any disruption to its operations.

House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington commended the CBO’s swift response to the cyberattack. In a statement made before the hearing, the Texas Republican highlighted the agency’s proactive measures in notifying relevant parties and coordinating a rapid response to secure their systems. "They handled that responsibly and there was a great sense of urgency and concern, which is what I would expect," Arrington said.

As the investigation continues, the CBO remains vigilant in enhancing its cybersecurity measures to prevent future incidents, ensuring that the agency’s critical economic data and analysis remain secure and trustworthy.