Minnesota Governor Deploys National Guard in a County Following Cyberattack

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed an executive order on April 7, 2026, stating that Winona County had suffered a cyberattack the previous day affecting its critical systems. The attack reportedly caused “significant disruptions,” requiring the deployment of the state’s National Guard.

“Unfortunately, the scale and complexity of this incident exceed both internal response capabilities and those of private service providers. As a result, Winona County has requested cybersecurity support from the Minnesota National Guard (…) to ensure the continuity of vital municipal services,” Tim Walz specified.

County officials have not made any public statement on the matter. On January 23, 2026, they had acknowledged being the victim of a ransomware attack. The executive order does not specify whether the two incidents are linked. In 2025, Tim Walz had already deployed the National Guard following a ransomware attack against the city of Saint Paul.