In an increasingly digital world, blood centers face a new and formidable challenge: sophisticated cyberattacks.

Blood centers are the lifeblood of our nation's healthcare system, ensuring a safe and sufficient blood supply for patients in need. These vital organizations serve our health care system, supporting everything from routine surgeries to emergency trauma responses.

Yet, in an increasingly digital world, blood centers face a new and formidable challenge: sophisticated cyberattacks. Recent incidents have exposed the vulnerability of these critical institutions to malicious actors, with potentially devastating consequences:

  • Disruptions to blood collection and distribution processes

  • Cancelation of elective surgeries and delays in non-emergency patient care due to diminished blood supplies

  • Significant financial losses and operational setbacks

The Urgent Need for Action

To safeguard our nation's blood supply and protect patient lives, we must act decisively. Blood centers require immediate support to:

  1. Modernize outdated information technology infrastructures

  2. Implement robust cybersecurity measures

  3. Enhance staff training and awareness programs

  4. Develop comprehensive incident response plans

The Ripple Effect: A National Security Concern

The impact of a successful cyberattack on a single blood center extends far beyond local communities. As other blood providers step in to meet patient needs, the entire national blood supply chain can be strained, creating a domino effect that threatens healthcare delivery across the country.

The Call to Congress

We are asking Congress to support legislation and funding initiatives that will empower blood centers to fortify their cyber defenses:

By investing in the cyber resilience of our blood community today, we can ensure the continued availability of life-saving blood products for all Americans tomorrow.

To address this urgent issue, blood centers need increased support and resources to update their current information technology infrastructures and strengthen their ability to prevent potential attacks.