Sen. Schumer seeks DHS plan on AI cyber coordination with state, local governments | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Senate\u2019s top Democrat called on the Department of Homeland Security Friday to work closely with state and local governments to defend against artificial intelligence-strengthened hacks. \"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/chuck-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sen. 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content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=270\"> <\/head><body class=\"wp-singular post-template-default single single-post postid-88935 single-format-standard wp-theme-scoopnewsgroup wp-child-theme-cyberscoop\" id=\"readabilityBody\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/chuck-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments\/#main\" class=\"skip-to-content-link visually-hidden-focusable\">Skip to main content<\/a> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <main id=\"main\" role=\"main\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-mobile\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"stickybar\" class=\"stickybar stickybar--newsletter js-stickybar\" readability=\"0.82\"> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"25.974380165289\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"34.897959183673\">\n<p> The Senate\u2019s top Democrat is worried about smaller government entities being left behind as AI models advance hacking risks. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/88935\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sen-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sen-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments-2.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sen-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments-2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sen-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments-2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sen-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments-2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sen-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments-2.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sen-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments-2.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sen-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments-2.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sen-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments-2.jpg?resize=505,337 505w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sen-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments-2.jpg?resize=1012,675 1012w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sen-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments-2.jpg?resize=1264,843 1264w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1012px) 100vw, 1012px\"><figcaption> U.S. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., leaves after a meeting on AI at the Kennedy Caucus Room at Russell Senate Office Building on Nov. 1, 2023 on Capitol Hill. (Photo by Alex Wong\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"23.683858998145\"><body readability=\"52.418410041841\"><\/p>\n<p>The Senate\u2019s top Democrat called on the Department of Homeland Security Friday to work closely with state and local governments to defend against artificial intelligence-strengthened hacks. <\/p>\n<p>Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to make sure state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) governments aren\u2019t left behind as AI models advance, posing new hacking threats.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is a race between cybersecurity defenders and AI-enabled hacking \u2014 and there\u2019s no time to waste,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.democrats.senate.gov\/imo\/media\/doc\/ces_letter_to_dhs.pdf\">Schumer wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile the White House <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/04\/technology\/trump-ai-models.html\">has reportedly begun<\/a> hosting meetings about its internal security priorities following these frontier AI cyber breakthroughs, it is glaringly obvious that the Department of Homeland Security needs an updated plan for coordinating these efforts with [state, local, tribal and territorial] governments and implementing procedures to reduce the risk of disruptive cyberattacks enabled by frontier AI,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Schumer said he was worried about the capabilities of DHS and its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to carry out that coordination, given federal funding cuts to the Multistate Information Sharing and Analysis Center, and the lack of a Senate-confirmed CISA director for the duration of the second Trump administration.<\/p>\n<p>Schumer wants a plan from DHS by July 1 on coordinating with state and local governments on a range of questions, such as how to identify top AI talent, carry out rapid patching and conduct risk assessments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAI is changing the cyber battlefield fast \u2014 and we cannot let hackers get there first,\u201d Schumer said in comments accompanying the letter. \u201cHospitals, power grids, water systems, schools, elections, and emergency services cannot be left exposed while criminal gangs and state-backed hackers race to exploit new AI tools. DHS must immediately help states and localities find and fix vulnerabilities before Americans are hit with outages, disruptions, and attacks that could put lives and livelihoods at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>CISA is using AI to help on the defensive side internally, <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cisa-ai-automation-security-operations-efficiency-uipath-fusion-event\/\">agency officials recently said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"7.7216117216117\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sen-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Tim Starks\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-card__details\" readability=\"10.901098901099\">\n<h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Tim Starks<\/h4>\n<p> Tim Starks is senior reporter at CyberScoop. His previous stops include working at The Washington Post, POLITICO and Congressional Quarterly. An Evansville, Ind. native, he’s covered cybersecurity since 2003. Email Tim here: <a href=\"mailto:tim.starks@cyberscoop.com\">tim.starks@cyberscoop.com<\/a>. <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>   <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/chuck-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sen. Schumer seeks DHS plan on AI cyber coordination with<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[235,384,926,452,293,221,292,579,459,2460,6483,4043,2413,288,1066],"tags":[236,388,928,454,299,229,298,581,461,2462,6484,4047,2417,294,1067],"class_list":["post-8624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ai","category-artificial-intelligence-ai","category-chuck-schumer","category-cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency-cisa","category-department-of-homeland-security-dhs","category-education","category-election-security","category-energy","category-health-care","category-local-government","category-markwayne-mullin","category-ms-isac","category-state-government","category-threats","category-water-sector","tag-ai","tag-artificial-intelligence-ai","tag-chuck-schumer","tag-cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency-cisa","tag-department-of-homeland-security-dhs","tag-education","tag-election-security","tag-energy","tag-health-care","tag-local-government","tag-markwayne-mullin","tag-ms-isac","tag-state-government","tag-threats","tag-water-sector"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/ai\/\" rel=\"category tag\">AI<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/artificial-intelligence-ai\/\" rel=\"category tag\">artificial intelligence (AI)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/chuck-schumer\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Chuck Schumer<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency-cisa\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/department-of-homeland-security-dhs\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Department of Homeland Security (DHS)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/education\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Education<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/election-security\/\" rel=\"category tag\">election security<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/energy\/\" rel=\"category tag\">energy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/health-care\/\" rel=\"category tag\">health care<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/local-government\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Local Government<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/markwayne-mullin\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Markwayne Mullin<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/ms-isac\/\" rel=\"category tag\">MS-ISAC<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/state-government\/\" rel=\"category tag\">State Government<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/threats\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Threats<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/water-sector\/\" rel=\"category tag\">water sector<\/a>","tag_info":"water sector","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8624"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8624\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

{"id":8624,"date":"2026-05-08T12:20:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T17:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=88935"},"modified":"2026-05-08T12:20:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T17:20:00","slug":"sen-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2026\/05\/08\/sen-schumer-seeks-dhs-plan-on-ai-cyber-coordination-with-state-local-governments\/","title":{"rendered":"Sen. Schumer seeks DHS plan on AI cyber coordination with state, local governments"},"content":{"rendered":"