GOP Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio emphasized the need to "harden" critical infrastructure assets as federal authorities investigate malicious cyber activity that disrupted water system technology in Minnesota and at least six other states last week.

The FBI reported that these cyber incidents forced some utilities to switch to manual operations. U.S. officials and sources familiar with the investigation told CBS News that Iranian hackers are suspected of involvement.

Turner, a former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, told CBS's "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that Congress has not been informed about the incidents. He noted that Iran has previously attacked U.S. critical infrastructure, alongside reports of hacking from China and Russia.

"One thing that we have to acknowledge is that our adversaries — Russia, China, North Korea, Iran — look at the critical infrastructure that support our civilian infrastructure, like water, ... as valid military targets," Turner said. He added, "These are things that we do not do, we would not do, and Iran certainly has been doing this well before this conflict, and this is something we certainly need to be aware of."

Turner further remarked, "We're certainly in a conflict where we would expect that they would continue that if they were doing to us before."

Meanwhile, former President Trump expressed skepticism that Iran was behind the attack, instead blaming Minnesota's state leadership, calling it "grossly incompetent" without providing evidence.

Iranian state-sponsored hackers have been accused of conducting cyberattacks on U.S. companies, government agencies, and infrastructure for over a decade.

Sources