Latest news with #MikeRogers
Epoch Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Epoch Times
Spyware Found in US Solar Panels: Is Australia More at Risk With 90 Percent Sourced From China?
With 90 percent of its solar panels imported from China, Australia may be especially vulnerable to the kinds of security threats now emerging in the U.S. energy sector, where spyware-type components were found in solar tech. That's the warning from one Australian strategic expert after a recent investigation Some of these components include cellular radios and were not listed in product documentation. They could also potentially allow remote access for hackers to control critical energy infrastructure, and bypass firewalls. 'We know that China believes there is value in placing at least some elements of our core infrastructure at risk of destruction or disruption,' Mike Rogers, a former director of the U.S. National Security Agency, told Reuters. 'I think that the Chinese are, in part, hoping that the widespread use of inverters limits the options that the West has to deal with the security issue.' The potential damage from a cyber attack is to strew chaos across power grids, infrastructure, and cause widespread blackouts.
Newsweek
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Republicans' Chances of Flipping Michigan Senate Seat in Midterms—New Poll
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Michigan presents an opportunity for Republicans to flip a Senate seat in the 2026 midterms, but a new poll suggested the race will be close in the battleground state that narrowly backed President Donald Trump last November. Why It Matters Senator Gary Peters' retirement in Michigan leaves the Senate seat open, and candidates from both parties are trying to seize on the rare open seat in the Great Lake State. The Michigan Senate race will likely be one of the most competitive, and expensive, of the midterms. The state has emerged as one of the closest battlegrounds, backing Trump in 2016 and 2024 but voting for Joe Biden in 2020. Republicans will be looking to expand their Senate majority, but it's a must win for Democrats who are hoping to ride a "blue wave" to flip the chamber in November 2026. Representative Haley Stevens (left) speaks at a rally on May 6, 2025, in Washington. Former Representative Mike Rogers attends an election watch party in Novi, Michigan, on November 5, 2024. Representative Haley Stevens (left) speaks at a rally on May 6, 2025, in Washington. Former Representative Mike Rogers attends an election watch party in Novi, Michigan, on November 5, 2024.;What To Know A new poll conducted by the Glengariff Group and the Detroit Regional Chamber asked Michigan voters who they would support in hypothetical matchups of the election. It found that the race will likely be competitive, but how close could depend on who emerges from each party's primary. Representative Haley Stevens held the strongest lead off any Democrat against former Representative Mike Rogers and Representative Bill Huizenga, who has not formally announced a campaign but has been floated as a potential candidate. Stevens led Rogers by 6 points and Huizenga by 8.4 points among "definite voters," the poll found. State Senator Mallory McMorrow led Rogers by 1.4 points and Huizenga by 4.7 points, according to the poll. Rogers held a 1.9-point lead over Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive who ran for governor in 2018, while El-Sayed held a 2.5-point lead over Huizenga, according to the poll. The poll surveyed 600 registered voters from May 5 to 8 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 points. How Competitive Will Michigan Senate Race Be? The Michigan Senate race has "the chance to be very close," David Dulio, director for civic engagement and distinguished professor of political science at Oakland University, told Newsweek. "Any time there is an open-seat contest, the competitiveness usually goes up as the candidates are often evenly matched in terms of quality and funding usually flows into these races," Dulio said. "Given the narrow majority Republicans have in the Senate, this race will be high on both parties' lists. For the Democrats to win back control, they will have to keep the seats they currently hold. The GOP sees this as a very good opportunity for a pickup." If the electorate is similar to 2018—the midterm during Trump's first presidency—Democrats may not need to win back Trump voters, he said. "Simply put, many Trump voters didn't show up in 2018," he said. "There's a strong chance that happens again in 2026. It goes back to the historical trends in midterm elections that often sees a surge in supporters for a presidential candidate in the presidential cycle and a decline in turnout among those voters during the midterm." Tariffs may be a critical issue on the minds of Michigan voters next year, he said. Democrats in the race "see a real opportunity," as the consensus is that it will likely be a "bad year" for Republicans. Rogers, meanwhile, has done a "good job of clearing the primary field," Dulio said. Michigan was one of the closest states in the 2024 presidential election. It backed Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris by 1.4 percentage points. At the same time, Democrat Elissa Slotkin, who at the time was a member of the House of Representatives, prevailed over Rogers in the Senate race. She won by only 0.3 percentage points. What People Are Saying Andrew Mamo, Mallory McMorrow for Michigan spokesman, told Newsweek: "We're thrilled with where our campaign stands at the beginning of this race. She has a clear path to beating any Republican who comes out of their primary and is working every day to bring people together to get it done." The El-Sayed campaign told Newsweek: "This early poll reflects what we've seen on the trail: our movement for working people is gaining momentum. Unlike the career politicians, Abdul has never and will never taken a cent of corporate PAC money—and his bold, honest positions reflect that. As Michiganders get to know Abdul, his record of government leadership, and his vision for an economy that puts people first, we know our movement will continue to grow." Haley Stevens campaign spokesperson Reeves Oyster told Newsweek: "This poll makes it clear that Haley Stevens is the only candidate in this race who can stand up to Donald Trump and Elon Musk's chaos agenda in the Senate to lower costs, grow Michigan's manufacturing economy, and fight for Michigan families." Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said when Rogers announced his candidacy: "Mike Rogers is the conservative leader that Michigan needs in the U.S. Senate. As an Army veteran and former special agent, Mike understands the importance of putting service before self. We need him in the U.S. Senate to help achieve President Trump's America First agenda and to bring manufacturing and good-paying jobs back to Michigan." What Happens Next Michigan's primary will be held in August 2026, so candidates have more than a year to make their case to voters. The Cook Political Report currently classifies the race as a pure toss-up.
Fox News
27-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Battle over Space Command HQ location heats up as lawmakers press new Air Force secretary
Years after the first Trump administration moved to designate Alabama as the home of a permanent Space Command headquarters (HQ), the political tug-of-war for the base continues. Colorado Republicans are urging the president to rethink the decision while Alabama lawmakers insist it will and should move forward. After his May 13 confirmation, new Air Force Secretary Troy Meink can now expect a lot of calls from Capitol Hill pulling him in different directions over the HQ. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said he had already discussed the matter with him. "I look forward to his recommendation that he concur with the last two secretaries of the Air Force and recommend to Huntsville," he said. "And I fully expect, based on our conversation, that's going to be what happens." The Space Force's home for the time being — Colorado Springs, Colorado — makes sense from the money that has already been invested in setting up shop there, according to Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo., whose district encompasses the current HQ. "It would mean $2 billion in savings to leave it where it is," Crank told Fox News Digital, pointing to savings from not having to build a new HQ building. President Donald Trump announced plans to move headquarters to Huntsville, Alabama, in his first term — but former President Joe Biden undid those plans when he came into office. Space Command has operated out of Peterson Space Force base in Colorado Springs since its 2019 inception. The command is responsible for military operations in space and will play a major role in the Golden Dome project. Crank argues that geographically, Colorado makes more sense — it is also home to Northern Command, and the two will need to coordinate over Trump's new Golden Dome missile defense project. "They've got to be seamless in their efforts to communicate," said Crank. "We don't want any delay in getting Golden Dome up and running." He argued that Space Command HQ, nestled into Cheyenne Mountain, is already "one of the most secure facilities" in the country. Being in the middle of the U.S., he added, makes it harder for enemies to attack. "From the standpoint of survivability, having that as an asset right there as well is, is really important." Rogers brushed off the complaints from his Colorado counterparts and argued Alabama had won fair and square. "They're just doing their job, you know, they don't want to see it leave," said Rogers. But, "they lost two nationwide competitions. It's not me saying it should be in Huntsville." He argued that right now, the command is spread out across four to five different buildings, some of which are outside the base perimeter. "None of them were built for classified operations," he said. "They just kind of make it work." Rogers pointed to a recent Defense Department inspector general (IG) report examining Biden's 2023 decision not to move the headquarters. That report found that then-Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall recommended that SPACECOM go to Redstone Arsenal, near Huntsville, Alabama, because the move would save $462 million. However, then SPACECOM Commander, Gen. James Dickinson, wanted to keep the permanent HQ in Colorado due to Air Force findings that the Alabama option would not be operational for three to four years. Dickinson and SPACECOM officers also worried that more than half of the highly trained civilian staff in Colorado would quit rather than move to Alabama for the job. "USSPACECOM leadership anticipated that the loss of civilian personnel might occur much sooner than (the Air Force) predicated and that USSPACECOM would be unable to secure the manpower investments needed to mitigate the impact of that loss on the command's readiness," the report states. However, Rogers argued, Colorado has had manpower issues as well. "The reason why Secretary Kendall didn't concur with them and recommended that it still be moved was that over 300 of the current jobs in Colorado Springs couldn't be filled," he said. "They had to contract them out." Crank argued that the cost findings in the IG report were flawed because it assumed Colorado would have to build a new HQ building, which he says it would not. "We don't need to build a new headquarters building," he said. "There is one there. If you say you need to build a new headquarters building, then I think it tips it in the favor of Alabama from a cost perspective by about $400 million." "But if you don't do that, and we don't need it, already have a headquarters building there, it saves the taxpayers $2 billion," he said. The IG report said it "could not determine" why Kendall never made a formal announcement decision for the SPACECOM transition after the September 2022 completion of an environmental impact assessment of the planned headquarters site in Alabama. Without a formal announcement, SPACECOM was able to declare full operational capability in Colorado, the report said. Rogers said the IG report proved the Biden administration's move was political, and predicted in April that Trump would formally name Alabama as the home of the Space Force within the month. However, Crank, along with GOP Reps. Lauren Boebert, Gabe Evans and Jeff Hurd, wrote to Trump and warned him that the move would affect readiness. "Moving the command would disrupt these established capabilities and partnerships, further diminishing our preparedness to face evolving threats," they wrote in a letter dated April 8. However, Rogers seems confident the move will go forward. "There's absolutely no national security implications for moving it," he said. "It needs to be in a permanent headquarters, and it needs to be inside the fence. All that's going to happen in Huntsville."
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
To The Point: Michigan's open Senate seat
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — This week on 'To The Point,' with the primary well over a year away, the race for the open Senate seat in Michigan is already heating up. This week, we will introduce you to Democratic candidate Representative Joe Tate, who says, 'I think it really comes down to Michiganders and who is going to be able to connect with them? Who is going to be able to listen to them? Listen to what they're optimistic about, also what their challenges are.' And former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers. 'That's why you want to send, I think, someone back to the United States Senate that understands that from stem to stern. They understand getting business here and know what that means. They understand we have to improve our education system. Understand how we have to get people into the skilled trades,' Rogers said. In the weeks to come, more candidates who have declared for the Senate and governor race as we prepare for the 2026 election. All that and more on this 'To The Point' episode for the weekend of May 24. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Epoch Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Rogue Communication Devices Found in Chinese Solar Power Inverters
LONDON—U.S. energy officials are reassessing the risk posed by Chinese-made devices that play a critical role in renewable energy infrastructure after unexplained communication equipment was found inside some of them, two people familiar with the matter said. Power inverters, which are predominantly produced in China, are used throughout the world to connect solar panels and wind turbines to electricity grids. They are also found in batteries, heat pumps, and electric vehicle chargers. While inverters are built to allow remote access for updates and maintenance, the utility companies that use them typically install firewalls to prevent direct communication back to China. However, rogue communication devices not listed in product documents have been found in some Chinese solar power inverters by U.S experts who strip down equipment hooked up to grids to check for security issues, the two people said. Over the past nine months, undocumented communication devices, including cellular radios, have also been found in some batteries from multiple Chinese suppliers, one of them said. Reuters was unable to determine how many solar power inverters and batteries they have looked at. Related Stories 5/14/2025 5/15/2025 The rogue components provide additional, undocumented communication channels that could allow firewalls to be circumvented remotely, with potentially catastrophic consequences, the two people said. Both declined to be named because they did not have permission to speak to the media. 'We know that China believes there is value in placing at least some elements of our core infrastructure at risk of destruction or disruption,' said Mike Rogers, a former director of the U.S. National Security Agency. 'I think that the Chinese are, in part, hoping that the widespread use of inverters limits the options that the West has to deal with the security issue.' Using the rogue communication devices to skirt firewalls and switch off inverters remotely, or change their settings, could destabilize power grids, damage energy infrastructure, and trigger widespread blackouts, experts said. 'That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid,' one of the people said, The two people declined to name the Chinese manufacturers of the inverters and batteries with extra communication devices, nor say how many they had found in total. The existence of the rogue devices has not previously been reported. The U.S. government has not publicly acknowledged the discoveries. Asked for comment, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said it continually assesses risk associated with emerging technologies and that there were significant challenges with manufacturers disclosing and documenting functionalities. 'While this functionality may not have malicious intent, it is critical for those procuring to have a full understanding of the capabilities of the products received,' a spokesperson said. Work is ongoing to address any gaps in disclosures through 'Software Bill of Materials'—or inventories of all the components that make up a software application—and other contractual requirements, the spokesperson said. Trusted Equipment As U.S.–China tensions escalate, the United States and others are reassessing China's role in strategic infrastructure because of concerns about potential security vulnerabilities, two former government officials said. 'The threat we face from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is real and growing. Whether it's telecom hacks or remotely accessing solar and battery inverters, the CCP stops at nothing to target our sensitive infrastructure and components,' said U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), a member of the Committee on Homeland Security. 'It is about time we ramp up our efforts to show China that compromising us will no longer be acceptable,' he told Reuters. In February, two U.S. Senators introduced the Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act, banning the Department of Homeland Security from purchasing batteries from some Chinese entities, starting October 2027, due to national security concerns. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on March 11 and has yet to be enacted. It aims to prevent Homeland Security from procuring batteries from six Chinese companies Washington says are closely linked to the CCP: Contemporary Amperex Technology Company (CATL), BYD Company, Envision Energy, EVE Energy Company, Hithium Energy Storage Technology Company, and Gotion High-tech Company. None of the companies responded to requests for comment. Utilities are now preparing for similar bans on Chinese inverter manufacturers, three people with knowledge of the matter said. Some utilities, including Florida's largest power supplier Florida Power & Light Company, are attempting to minimise the use of Chinese inverters by sourcing equipment from elsewhere, according to two people familiar with the matter. FPL did not respond to requests for comment. The DOE spokesperson said: 'As more domestic manufacturing takes hold, DOE is working across the federal government to strengthen U.S. supply chains, providing additional opportunities to integrate trusted equipment into the power grid.' 'Catastrophic Implications' Huawei is the world's largest supplier of inverters, accounting for 29 percent of shipments globally in 2022, followed by Chinese peers Sungrow and Ginlong Solis, according to consultancy Wood Mackenzie. German solar developer 1Komma5 said, however, that it avoids Huawei inverters, because of the brand's associations with security risks. 'Ten years ago, if you switched off the Chinese inverters, it would not have caused a dramatic thing to happen to European grids, but now the critical mass is much larger,' 1Komma5 Chief Executive Philipp Schroeder said. 'China's dominance is becoming a bigger issue because of the growing renewables capacity on Western grids and the increased likelihood of a prolonged and serious confrontation between China and the West,' he said. Since 2019, the United States has restricted Huawei's access to U.S. technology, accusing the company of activities contrary to national security, which Huawei denies. Chinese companies are required by law to cooperate with China's intelligence agencies, giving the government potential control over Chinese-made inverters connected to foreign grids, experts said. While Huawei decided to leave the U.S. inverter market in 2019—the year its 5G telecoms equipment was banned—it remains a dominant supplier elsewhere. Huawei declined to comment. In Europe, exercising control over just 3–4 gigawatts of energy could cause widespread disruption to electricity supplies, experts said. The European Solar Manufacturing Council estimates over 200 GW of European solar power capacity is linked to inverters made in China—equivalent to more than 200 nuclear power plants. At the end of last year, there was 338 GW of installed solar power in Europe, according to industry association SolarPower Europe. 'If you remotely control a large enough number of home solar inverters, and do something nefarious at once, that could have catastrophic implications to the grid for a prolonged period of time,' said Uri Sadot, cyber security program director at Israeli inverter manufacturer SolarEdge. Strategic Dependencies Other countries such as Lithuania and Estonia acknowledge the threats to energy security. In November, the Lithuanian government passed a law blocking remote Chinese access to solar, wind, and battery installations above 100 kilowatts—by default restricting the use of Chinese inverters. Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas said this could be extended to smaller rooftop solar installations. Estonia's Director General of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Kaupo Rosin, said the country could be at risk of blackmail from China if it did not ban Chinese technology in crucial parts of the economy, such as solar inverters. Estonia's Ministries of Defence and Climate declined to comment when asked if they had taken any action. In Britain, the government's review of Chinese renewable energy technology in the energy system—due to be concluded in the coming months—includes looking at inverters, a person familiar with the matter said. In November, solar power inverters in the United States and elsewhere were disabled from China, highlighting the risk of foreign influence over local electricity supplies and causing concern among government officials, three people familiar with the matter said. Reuters was unable to determine how many inverters were switched off, or the extent of disruption to grids. The DOE declined to comment on the incident. The incident led to a commercial dispute between inverter suppliers Sol-Ark and Deye, the people said. 'Sol-Ark does not comment on vendor relationships, including any relationship with Deye, nor does it have any control over inverters that are not branded Sol-Ark, as was the case in the November 2024 situation you referenced,' a Sol-Ark spokesperson said. Deye did not respond to requests for comment. The energy sector is trailing other industries such as telecoms and semiconductors, where regulations have been introduced in Europe and the United States to mitigate China's dominance. Security analysts say this is partly because decisions about whether to secure energy infrastructure are mostly dictated by the size of any installation. Household solar or battery storage systems fall below thresholds where security requirements typically kick-in, they said, despite now contributing a significant share of power on many Western grids. NATO, the 32-country Western security alliance, said China's efforts to control member states' critical infrastructure—including inverters—were intensifying. 'We must identify strategic dependencies and take steps to reduce them,' said a NATO official. By Sarah McFarlane
