The U.S. Coast Guard’s payroll system has suffered a data breach, resulting in delayed bi-weekly pay for 1,135 service members.

The breach, which affected direct deposit account routing information, was detected after reports of unusual activity.

To mitigate risks and secure personnel data, the Coast Guard took its payroll system offline, further complicating payment processes for affected members.

The news was first reported by journalist Marisa Kabas and later confirmed by Task & Purpose. In response, the Coast Guard issued a statement explaining that the Pay and Personnel Center’s Direct Access service is currently undergoing "unscheduled maintenance" due to the breach and will remain offline until at least February 19.

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The disruption has limited access to the system, allowing only select representatives to investigate the breach, protect service members’ personal information, and ensure mid-month pay processing for those impacted.

“Currently, access is limited to select representatives for purposes of investigating the breach, securing service members’ personal information, and ensuring timely processing of mid-month pay to impacted members,” the Coast Guard stated.

In response to the disruption, the Coast Guard’s Personnel Service Center and Pay and Personnel Center have moved swiftly to expedite pay to those affected.

Impacted individuals were notified via email, though the service has not provided details on the full extent of the breach or its potential causes.

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The Coast Guard Investigative Service and Coast Guard Cyber Command are actively conducting an investigation to determine how the breach occurred and what vulnerabilities may have been exploited.

“The men and women of the Coast Guard workforce are our most valuable resource. They will be paid as soon as possible. They also deserve transparency into the causes and resolution of this incident,” the statement continued.

“Through the ongoing response and investigation, the Coast Guard will continue to provide timely updates to the workforce, and clarity regarding the Service’s efforts to address any vulnerabilities in our data system.”

This incident marks the second data breach to hit the Coast Guard in less than a year.

In April 2024, a separate breach exposed personal information of over 10,000 Coast Guard Reserve members, including their names and addresses. The recurrence of such breaches raises concerns about the security of military payroll and personnel systems, prompting calls for enhanced cybersecurity measures.

The Coast Guard has assured service members that it is taking every possible step to secure their data and prevent future breaches. However, the disruption in pay has created immediate financial concerns for the affected personnel, underscoring the critical need for improved security infrastructure within the organization.

As investigations continue, the focus remains on restoring payroll functions and ensuring that all service members receive their owed compensation without further delays.

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