Nevada state government offices closed after network security incident

In a troubling incident that unfolded in the early hours of Sunday, August 24, the state government of Nevada was struck by a serious “network security incident.” This event, first identified by Governor Lombardo’s team that day, has culminated in the closure of virtually all state offices and significant disruptions across the state’s digital and phone infrastructure.

State executives, including the Governor’s Technology Office, have been working nonstop—during both standard hours and unofficial ones—in collaboration with local, tribal, and federal agencies to carefully restore services while ensuring the safety and stability of the systems. They’ve employed temporary rerouting and operational workarounds where possible, all while validating systems incrementally before fully resuming normal operations.

The disruption has had wide-ranging impacts: numerous official websites—including the governor’s own—remained inaccessible late on Monday, many phone lines have become patchy or gone entirely offline, and essential in-person services, such as those at DMVs, were suspended. Emergency systems, including 911 hotlines, have remained operational, and police dispatch functions—such as those of the Highway Patrol and State Police—have either resumed or continued running with limited interruption.

While officials have yet to disclose the specific nature of the incident—whether it stemmed from a cyberattack or other cause—the symptoms line up with ransomware-style disruptions, where systems are incapacitated to exert pressure on victims.

Promptly responding to public concerns, the governor’s office reiterated that there’s currently no evidence suggesting that personal, identifiable information has been compromised, offering some reassurance to residents. Nonetheless, officials warned people to remain vigilant for potential scams. They advised that no state agency will ever request passwords, banking details, or payments via unsolicited calls, texts, or emails, urging citizens to confirm information only through official state websites as they come back online.

Federal agencies have joined the response efforts: the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is actively tracking the incident and coordinating closely with Nevada state officials, while the FBI has confirmed its involvement in the ongoing investigation.

As of now, the state’s in-person government operations remain largely halted. The networks continue to suffer degradation, and phone lines are still unreliable. Authorities have not yet confirmed when normal operations may resume; meanwhile, recovery and system validation efforts remain in full force.

To recap:

• The incident began early Sunday, August 24, 2025.

• All in-person state services were suspended, and state phone lines and websites are widely affected.

• Emergency response systems like 911 remain functioning properly.

• No personal data breach has been detected thus far.

• Authorities, including CISA and the FBI, are actively investigating.

• The situation remains fluid, with the state emphasizing safe restoration and system integrity over speed.

Source: CNN