White Lake Township Cyberattack in Michigan Halts $45M Civic Project
White Lake Township, Michigan, revealed on December 4, 2024, that it had been the target of a "sophisticated cybersecurity attack" on November 21. The breach compromised financial transactions related to a $29 million bond issuance for its $45 million Civic Center project. Township officials confirmed the disruption affected the infrastructure bond closing, halting progress on the long-anticipated project, which includes a new town hall and public safety facility. Federal investigators, financial institutions, and local police are actively probing the incident, while township leaders conduct an internal review of their systems. Police Chief Daniel Keller stated that officials are committed to transparency but cautioned that limited details can be shared during the investigation.
The township waited until December 4 to publicly acknowledge the cyberattack, reflecting a broader trend of public institutions delaying or limiting transparency about such incidents. While specific technical details of the breach remain unclear, officials emphasized its financial impact by filing a material event notice with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. Despite the temporary pause in the $45 million Civic Center project, Township Supervisor Rik Kowall expressed optimism that the initiative, aimed at modernizing White Lake’s infrastructure, could still proceed.
This attack is part of a troubling rise in cybersecurity incidents targeting Michigan municipalities. In November, Wexford County experienced a ransomware attack that disrupted government services, while a ransomware breach in October crippled Wayne County’s online systems, delaying tax payments and real estate filings. Healthcare systems have also been vulnerable; McLaren Health Care suffered a significant disruption in August. These incidents, including the attack on White Lake Township, underscore the growing need for enhanced cybersecurity in public institutions to safeguard critical operations and financial stability.