Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has activated the state’s National Guard following a coordinated cyberattack that disrupted critical city services and raised public safety concerns in St. Paul.
City officials first detected the breach in the early hours of Friday, when cybersecurity systems flagged unusual activity on the municipal network. By Tuesday, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter confirmed that the incident was no accident.
“This wasn’t a glitch or a technical malfunction,” Carter said during a press conference. “This was a deliberate and organized digital assault by a sophisticated external actor, criminally targeting our city’s infrastructure.”
At the city’s request, Walz issued an executive order mobilizing the Minnesota National Guard’s cyber protection unit to support recovery efforts. The move comes as Walz campaigns as the Democratic vice presidential nominee in the 2024 election.
“We are fully committed to helping St. Paul recover and safeguard its systems,” Walz said in a statement. “Cyber experts from the Minnesota National Guard are coordinating with city, state, and federal authorities to contain the damage and protect residents.”
Mayor Carter outlined the city’s multi-pronged response, including hiring two private cybersecurity firms, coordinating with law enforcement agencies including the FBI, and taking parts of the city’s network offline to isolate the threat.
As of Monday, the city had shut down key information systems to stop the breach from spreading. That move caused disruptions such as Wi-Fi outages in municipal buildings, though 911 services remain fully operational, according to Carter.
“These outages are frustrating, but they are necessary to contain the threat and protect sensitive information,” he said. “We are doing everything we can to maintain transparency, restore systems, and limit long-term impact.”
Carter also issued a local emergency declaration to unlock additional resources and expedite the city’s response. He emphasized that National Guard cyber specialists were already “actively assisting” St. Paul’s IT teams.
“We’re responding with the speed and seriousness this incident demands,” Carter said. “Our top priority is protecting the people of St. Paul and restoring full functionality as quickly as possible.”
The full scope and origin of the cyberattack are still under investigation.
