A major cyberattack has struck the City of St. Paul, Minnesota, prompting local officials to activate the Minnesota National Guard’s cyber protection team to help restore critical systems and maintain continuity of essential municipal services. The incident began late last week and continued through the weekend, causing widespread disruptions across digital infrastructure and vital city services.
“While many city services remain available, some may be temporarily delayed or disrupted due to limited system access. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to bring systems fully back online,” the City of St. Paul said in an official statement.
City Officials Request National Guard Cyber Support After Internal and Commercial Resources Prove Insufficient
The city declared an emergency on Tuesday, citing that the severity of the cyberattack had outstripped the capabilities of both internal IT teams and external cybersecurity vendors.
“St. Paul officials have been working around the clock since discovering the cyberattack, closely coordinating with Minnesota Information Technology Services and an external cybersecurity vendor. Unfortunately, the scale and complexity of this incident exceeded both internal and commercial response capabilities,” reads the emergency executive order signed by city officials.
Given the extensive impact, St. Paul formally requested the deployment of the Minnesota National Guard to bolster its cyber defenses. The Guard’s cyber forces will support state and local efforts to contain the incident, investigate its source, and expedite recovery.
“As a result, St. Paul has requested cyber protection support from the Minnesota National Guard to help address this incident and make sure that vital municipal services continue without interruption.”
Governor Walz Confirms National Guard’s Involvement in Coordinated Response Effort
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz acknowledged the deployment on Tuesday and emphasized a united front among state, city, and federal entities to respond effectively to the attack.
“We are committed to working alongside the City of Saint Paul to restore cybersecurity as quickly as possible,” said Governor Walz.
“The Minnesota National Guard’s cyber forces will collaborate with city, state, and federal officials to resolve the situation and mitigate lasting impacts.”
Services Disrupted as Investigators Work to Restore Critical Infrastructure
While officials have not disclosed the specific systems affected, the incident has caused interruptions across multiple municipal operations. The city has not yet confirmed the source of the cyberattack or whether data was exfiltrated. It remains unclear whether the incident was ransomware-related or a targeted intrusion by a sophisticated threat actor.
St. Paul, Minnesota’s second-largest city after Minneapolis, has a population of over 311,000 and serves as the state capital. Ensuring the continuity of local services—including emergency response, utilities, and digital communication—is a top priority as the investigation and recovery continue.
Officials have not released an expected timeline for full restoration but stated efforts are ongoing around the clock.
