Graham: More money needed to combat cyberattacks

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says the U.S. needs to spend more money to combat cyberattacks in the wake of one that targeted 4 million federal workers.

On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Graham was asked what he would do as president to counter these attacks. 

“Number one, you’ve got to have more money. You’ve got to set aside these budget cuts for defense and nondefense. Do Simpson-Bowles. That’s where the money is at. $70 trillion of unfunded liability from the retirement of baby boomers makes us Greece.  But with some means-testing and some major adjustments, we’ll get through,” Graham said.

{mosads}Graham, who launched his presidential bid last week, has advocated a “mini-Simpson Bowles” plan to reverse spending ceilings. He said he would be willing to raise taxes by ending loopholes in exchange for concessions Democrats would make on entitlement spending.

The Office of Personnel Management revealed last week that a cyberattack exposed information of millions of government employees. Reports say the Chinese government was responsible for the breach.

Graham argued the military must be replenished and the private sector should strengthen its infrastructure against cyberattacks.

“The Chinese and the Russians are symptoms of a greater problem. China is building islands over resource-rich waters that other nations claim because they think we’re weak,” Graham said.

“They’re intimidating their neighbors, and the only way we’re going to reset world order is to get back in the game.”