Group with close ties to Trump transition says it was targeted in cyber attack

A conservative think tank that has been laying the groundwork for a possible second Trump administration has been targeted by an apparent cyber attack.

The America First Policy Institute contacted federal authorities for assistance after its internal network was breached. The group said in a statement that its systems have since been secured.

“It is not surprising that hostile foreign actors would attempt to infiltrate our IT,” said Marc Lotter, a spokesperson for AFPI. “The tactics, techniques, and procedures of the threat actor are similar to that of nation-state sponsored activities we have seen, allowing us to remediate and respond quickly.”

The apparent breach comes amid widespread hacks and attempted intrusions aimed at U.S. government and private institutions across the country, often carried out by overseas actors.

AFPI did not disclose whether any data was removed in the hack, how the breach occurred or the identification, if known, of the actors behind the intrusion.

The FBI declined to comment.

Reports have been mounting in recent months of foreign actors seeking to undermine the 2024 election, including a hacking of the Trump campaign by Iran. AFPI, an influential group in Trump’s orbit dubbed his “White House-in-waiting,” has been quietly drafting plans for the next Republican administration.

Launched after Trump’s 2020 loss, the nonprofit became a home for loyal alumni from his administration to craft policy to further Trump’s agenda. It also has official ties to Trump’s transition. AFPI’s board chair, Linda MacMahon, also co-chairs Trump’s official transition. The group’s president and CEO, Brooke Rollins, served as the director of Trump’s domestic policy council and could potentially be the former president’s new chief of staff if he wins in November.

Earlier this year, the U.S. intelligence community concluded that the Trump campaign was hacked by Iranian operatives, and hackers allegedly sent information to people connected to the Biden campaign. Officials have repeatedly cautioned about efforts by foreign adversaries to sow distrust and influence the upcoming election. In recent remarks, Attorney General Merrick Garland said that the U.S. was on watch for malign campaigns from Russia, Iran, and China.