Statement from Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Alex Plechash:
“President Trump was right: Minnesota is vulnerable, and Tim Walz and Amy Klobuchar are responsible.
This is not one isolated attack. It is a pattern of neglected systems, failed leadership and repeated warnings that were never taken seriously.
In 2023, a ransomware attack on Minneapolis Public Schools compromised sensitive information belonging to more than 100,000 people, including deeply personal student records. Months later, a Minnesota Department of Education breach exposed information involving approximately 95,000 children in foster care.
In 2025, a cyberattack forced St. Paul to shut down its computer network and call in the Minnesota National Guard. Attackers stole approximately 43 gigabytes of data containing personal information on more than 12,000 people.
In January 2026, Winona County was breached and Social Security numbers, driver’s-license information, medical records, financial information and law-enforcement data were stolen. Less than three months later, the county was attacked again, disrupting critical systems and forcing another National Guard response.
Now, more than 30 Minnesota community water systems have been targeted in a coordinated cyberattack against the technology controlling critical public infrastructure.
Amy Klobuchar is always first to the microphone when Washington sends Minnesota another check. She takes the credit, holds the press conference and promises that government is making Minnesotans safer. But when those systems fail, personal information is exposed and critical infrastructure is attacked, Klobuchar disappears from the accountability conversation and blames President Trump.
Tim Walz and Amy Klobuchar have spent years claiming credit for government spending while allowing Minnesota’s public systems to decay and remain vulnerable. Schools, cities, counties and water systems have all been breached under their watch.
This is what happens when politicians care more about announcing federal dollars than making sure those dollars actually produce secure, functioning government.
President Trump was right to demand answers. Walz and Klobuchar left Minnesota vulnerable, and they must answer for it.”
— Alex Plechash, Chairman, Republican Party of Minnesota