U.S. Infrastructure Monthly Roundup

July 2025

A monthly compilation of news stories and articles covering physical and cyber threats and hazards to U.S. infrastructure.
CIKROS Intelligence Solutions, LLC, is a provider of situational awareness for U.S. infrastructure owners, operators, and stakeholders. Connect with the founder and author of this newsletter on LinkedIn.

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Energy Sector

DOE report warns of widespread reliability risks, accelerated by conventional plant retirements

Blackout risks in 2030 could be 100 times higher if the U.S. keeps shutting down conventional power plants, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Energy. According to DOE’s analysis, the grid will not be able to sustain an estimated 104 gigawatts of baseload generation retirements by 2030 and is not prepared to meet the growth in electricity demand driven by data centers and artificial intelligence. DOE expects an additional 100 GW of new peak-hour supply to be needed by then; half of that growth is directly attributable to data centers.

www.power-eng.com/business/policy-and-regulation/doe-report-warns-of-widespread-reliability-risks-accelerated-by-conventional-plant-retirements

Ransomware attacks on oil and gas sector surge by 935%

Ransomware attacks on the oil and gas sector have skyrocketed by a staggering 935% between April 2024 and April 2025, according to a recent security report from Zscaler. This alarming increase has caught many cybersecurity experts by surprise, as historically, hackers have primarily targeted industries like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Nearly 50% of the ransomware attacks during this period were concentrated in the United States, with the country topping the list of 15 nations most affected by these cybercrimes.

www.cybersecurity-insiders.com/ransomware-attacks-on-oil-and-gas-sector-surge-by-935-says-zscaler

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Transportation Systems Sector

Storms flood NYC roads, shut down trains and flights across the East Coast

Severe thunderstorms and torrential rain slammed the East Coast on July 31, stranding vehicles, suspending train service, and triggering flash flood warnings from Virginia to Connecticut. In New York City, streets quickly filled with water, forcing road closures, water rescues, and commuter chaos. Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for New York City and surrounding counties, while Amtrak shut down train service between Philadelphia and Wilmington due to high water.

www.fox5ny.com/weather/nyc-east-coast-storms-flooding-emergency-july-31

How cruise ships have been impacted, re-routed by tsunami warnings

The 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck off Russia's Pacific coast triggered tsunami warnings and evacuation alerts for travelers, spurring emergency procedures for cruise ships in the Pacific Ocean. Some ships in Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. West Coast were required to leave ports after the initial tsunami advisory was issued by the National Weather Service on July 29.

abcnews.go.com/GMA/Travel/cruise-ships-impacted-routed-tsunami-warnings/story?id=124204767

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Chemical Facilities Sector

2,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid leak at Cargill plant near Wahpeton, North Dakota

www.kvrr.com/2025/07/07/crews-respond-to-chemical-spill-north-of-wahpeton

Commercial Facilities Sector

Gunman kills 4, including police officer, in shooting at New York City office tower

apnews.com/article/new-york-city-shooting-nfl-building-274f8b4f6147d21298a08f8003ef13c1

Traverse City Walmart stabbing suspect facing terrorism and assault charges, pleads not guilty

www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/traverse-city-walmart-stabbing-suspect-charged

At least 30 injured after car plows into crowd outside music venue in Los Angeles

abcnews.go.com/US/car-plows-crowd-los-angeles-after-driver-loses/story?id=123887059

Communications Sector

Man arrested for theft of T-Mobile cell tower equipment across Arizona

www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/man-arrested-for-theft-of-cell-tower-equipment-across-arizona

Chinese researchers suggest lasers and sabotage to counter Musk’s Starlink satellites

apnews.com/article/spacex-musk-starlink-china-satellites-759e53143378357ce3af21ca8a6916df

Critical Manufacturing Sector

Amid Air India probe, U.S. FAA, Boeing notify fuel switch locks are safe

www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/amid-air-india-probe-us-faa-boeing-notify-fuel-switch-locks-are-safe-document-2025-07-13

Dams Sector

Floods force Buchanan Dam to open flood gates for first time in years

www.kxan.com/independence-day-floods/floods-force-buchanan-dam-to-open-flood-gates-for-first-time-in-years

Governor Stein's message to people near Mebane dam: 'Folks need to be on their toes'

abc11.com/post/mebane-nc-lake-michael-dam-draws-concerns-homeowners-breach-chantal-governor-stein-says/17023356

Defense Industrial Base Sector

Marines team up with ICE in bold move to boost ‘threat awareness’ at critical military bases

www.foxnews.com/us/marines-team-up-ice-bold-move-boost-threat-awareness-critical-military-bases

Microsoft ends use of China-based engineers to patch DOD systems

www.nextgov.com/defense/2025/07/microsoft-ends-use-china-based-engineers-patch-dod-systems/406851

Educational Facilities

1 killed in shooting at University of New Mexico during new student orientation

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/university-new-mexico-shooting-rcna221085

Emergency Services Sector

Training facility blast kills 3 LA deputies in one of sheriff's department's worst losses of life

apnews.com/article/facility-sheriff-los-angeles-dead-explosion-da7ad1fdc444bbb7d8c14f33b44333e6

Several in custody after North Texas police officer shot in neck outside ICE facility

www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/alvarado-police-officer-shot-suspects-open-fire-fourth-of-july-johnson-county

Suspect dead after opening fire on entrance of Texas Border Patrol building

abcnews.go.com/US/suspect-dead-after-active-shooter-incident-texas-border/story?id=123536670

Faith-Based Organizations

Texas inspectors approved Camp Mystic’s disaster plan 2 days before deadly flood, records show

apnews.com/article/camp-mystic-floods-state-inspection-ef17d51dc7868fa9cc5c3076c31ed98a

Lombard teen accused of plotting act of terror at Glendale Heights Islamic center, possessing gun

abc7chicago.com/post/lombard-teen-boy-accused-plotting-detonate-explosive-glendale-heights-islamic-education-center-goodrich-avenue-fbi/17184214

Financial Services Sector

Wells Fargo suspends China travel after banker was blocked from leaving

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-17/wells-fargo-suspends-china-travel-as-banker-blocked-from-leaving

DOJ investigates ex-ransomware negotiator over extortion kickbacks

www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/doj-investigates-ex-ransomware-negotiator-over-extortion-kickbacks

Arizona woman sentenced in $17m IT worker fraud scheme that illegally generated revenue for North Korea

www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/arizona-woman-sentenced-17m-it-worker-fraud-scheme-illegally-generated-revenue-north

Food and Agriculture Sector

One dead, hundreds arrested in California farm raid as judge orders pause to aggressive tactics

www.reuters.com/legal/government/one-california-worker-dead-hundreds-arrested-after-cannabis-farm-raid-2025-07-11

Texas Agriculture Commissioner talks flood relief for farmers while visiting Grimes County

www.kbtx.com/2025/07/23/texas-agriculture-commissioner-talks-flood-relief-farmers-while-visiting-grimes-county

Government Facilities Sector

Member of white supremacist group charged in alleged plot to solicit murder of 'high-value targets'

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/member-white-supremacy-group-charged-alleged-plot-solicit-murder-high-rcna216701

Minnesota National Guard activated, state of emergency declared after cyberattack against St. Paul

kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/city-of-st-paul-experiencing-unplanned-technology-disruptions

Man charged with possession of dangerous weapon in hours-long standoff at Chicago federal building

abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-man-mario-santoyo-charged-possession-knife-hours-long-standoff-dirksen-federal-building-downtown-officials/17295550

Information Technology Sector

Microsoft says Chinese hacking groups exploited SharePoint vulnerability in attacks

www.cnbc.com/2025/07/22/microsoft-sharepoint-chinese-hackers.html

Ingram Micro outage caused by SafePay ransomware attack

www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ingram-micro-outage-caused-by-safepay-ransomware-attack

AI-Generated Phishing Sites Mimic Okta, Microsoft 365

www.techrepublic.com/article/news-vercel-ai-tool-phishing-okta

National Monuments and Icons

A wildfire that destroyed historic Grand Canyon Lodge spread after being allowed to burn for days

apnews.com/article/grand-canyon-fire-lodge-north-rim-e2af8a6a42c40c74a8ba69517ba1e592

Teton skyline crumbles as Second Tower collapse continues

www.bridgervalleypioneer.com/stories/teton-skyline-crumbles-as-second-tower-collapse-continues,77241

Water and Wastewater Systems Sector

31 trapped workers rescued from collapsed sanitation tunnel in Los Angeles

ktla.com/news/local-news/workers-trapped-after-tunnel-collapses-in-wilmington

Computer problem to blame for boil advisory in Golden Valley, Crystal, New Hope, MN

kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/computer-problem-to-blame-for-boil-advisory-in-golden-valley-crystal-new-hope

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