Key facts
- Hackers attempted to access FEC filing systems.
- The FEC shut down parts of its electronic filing system.
- The outage prevents organizations from filing 24-hour and 48-hour spending reports.
Hackers attempted to access filing systems at the Federal Election Commission, prompting the agency to shut down parts of its electronic filing system to contain the attack. The incident occurred a week before the midterm elections, disrupting the agency's ability to process campaign finance disclosures. The FEC stated that its IT staff are actively working to restore service, and users can still search the website for past reports. The outage prevents organizations from filing mandatory 24-hour and 48-hour spending reports, which are crucial for tracking political spending in the final days of the election cycle. Experts noted the unprecedented nature of the outage and its impact on transparency.