DIXMONT, Maine — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is worried the partial government shutdown could leave the U.S. more vulnerable to cyberattacks during the war with Iran.
Having fewer Department of Homeland Security employees to counter cyberattacks could leave the U.S. open for attacks from Iran, similar to one conducted against the medical technology company Stryker, the Republican senator said Friday afternoon during a tour of the Dixmont Fire Department.
“It’s inexcusable that the Department of Homeland Security is shut down, particularly when we’re engaged in military hostilities,” Collins said. “The last thing that we need is a cyberattack from the Iranians taking out part of our electrical grid or some other piece of critical infrastructure.”
Those remarks served as a continuation of Collins’ criticism of Senate Democrats for their role in the partial government shutdown. But she is also winding up for a potential vote against continuing President Donald Trump’s war in Iran, which her Democratic challengers have made a major issue in the primary for the right to face her in November.
The shutdown has been in place for more than 60 days due to party-line disagreements about funding the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats refused to fund DHS this year after immigration officers shot and killed two U.S. citizens in January.
Funding could have been approved earlier this year during bipartisan agreements that included “safeguards” including requiring immigration officers to wear cameras and additional training for incoming agents, Collins said, saying she hopes a “cloud of uncertainty” can be lifted over essential federal employees.
Collins told Semafor on Thursday she would likely vote against extending the U.S.-Israel war with Iran after the 60-day period that requires congressional approval under the War Powers Act, a deadline that would come later this month.
The senator also voted against a Democratic resolution to limit Trump’s war powers on Wednesday. It was the fourth such vote and was a largely party-line vote. The U.S. House of Representatives also shot down a similar resolution, and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine’s 2nd District was the only Democrat to oppose it.
Senate Majority PAC, a political group linked to Democratic leaders, began running an ad this week targeting Collins over the war. The party’s two major candidates, Gov. Janet Mills and Graham Platner have harshly criticized Trump and Collins over it. Platner called the conflict “un-American” last month, while Mills labeled the strikes illegal.
If Trump goes over the 60-day limit or deploys troops to Iran, Collins said she would not support it. Collins did not say exactly how she thought the war should end, but she noted the Trump administration is negotiating with Iran with Pakistan as an intermediary.
“Once we reach that 60-day limit, I think the situation changes,” she said. “I have always wanted this conflict to be brief, but successful.”