A bipartisan group of House members from New York are raising concerns about Chinese involvement in building New York City subway cars, zeroing in on the potential that the new train cars could be hacked or controlled remotely.

The group of 15 lawmakers, led by Reps. Kathleen RiceKathleen Maura RiceDHS suggests new role for cybersecurity staff — helping with border crisis WHIP LIST: Democrats who support an impeachment inquiry against President Trump Sinema, Gallagher fastest lawmakers in charity race MORE (D-N.Y.) and John KatkoJohn Michael KatkoAfter National Police Week, clearer heads must prevail in legislation slashing Amtrak security Here are the eight Republicans who voted with Democrats on the Equality Act House approves anti-LGBT discrimination Equality Act MORE (R-N.Y.), wrote a letter to the New York City Transit Authority and the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) recently to “raise concerns regarding the safety and security” of New York City’s transit system following MTA’s decision to allow a Chinese-owned company to design new rail cars for the city.

“As you may be aware, critical infrastructure systems around the country have been increasingly targeted in recent years as part of coordinated hacking attempts and other forms of systematic interference, often stemming directly from foreign governments,” the lawmakers wrote.

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“These actions are part of comprehensive efforts to undermine U.S. economic competitiveness and national security, and we have serious concerns regarding MTA’s involvement with some of those same foreign governments and the protections in place to ensure that our subway systems remain safe and secure,” they added.

In 2018, MTA announced that the winners of its “MTA Genius Transit Challenge” would include the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), which proposed an investment of $50 million of its own funds to develop a new subway car in New York City. The challenge was announced in 2017 in order to upgrade the subway system.

While the members acknowledged that “no U.S. companies currently manufacture transit railcars,” they stressed that they have “serious concerns regarding the intimate involvement of a Chinese state-owned enterprise in these efforts.”

They specifically pointed to concerns around rail cars being built that would include Wi-Fi systems and train control technology that could be susceptible to hacking or other cyberattacks and asked that MTA respond to questions around how it planned to ensure the cybersecurity of its rail cars.

The letter from the House members comes after Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerMcConnell says Republicans would fill 2020 Supreme Court vacancy Tackling climate change: How lawmakers are facing environmental injustice No agreement on budget caps in sight ahead of Memorial Day recess MORE (D-N.Y.) called on the Commerce Department last week to “thoroughly investigate” CRRC.  

“Given what we know about how cyberwarfare works, and recent attacks that have hit transportation and infrastructure hubs across the country, the Department of Commerce must give the green light and thoroughly check any proposals or work China’s CRRC does on behalf of the New York subway system, including our signals, Wi-Fi and more,” Schumer said in a statement.

CRRC, which is the world’s largest passenger train manufacturer, is also planning to bid on building Metro cars for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in Washington, D.C. Reuters reported earlier this month that the company plans to bid on a WMATA contract to build new Metro cars that is worth more than $500 million. The company is also involved in building rail cars in Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago.

While CRRC did not immediately respond to comment on this story, it said in a statement after winning the MTA challenge that “we look forward to introducing CRRC’s design philosophy focused on accelerating the pace subway vehicles are procured and deployed to the New York transit system.”

The Chinese company’s involvement in the D.C. Metro system is an issue that has raised concerns among Senate Democrats who represent Virginia and Maryland, particularly in light of recent Trump administration moves against Chinese telecommunications companies involved in the roll out of fifth generation wireless technology, or 5G.

Last week, Sens. Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerFacebook defends decision to keep up Pelosi video Trump declassification move unnerves Democrats Hillicon Valley: Assange hit with 17 more charges | Facebook removes record 2.2B fake profiles | Senate passes anti-robocall bill | Senators offer bill to help companies remove Huawei equipment MORE (D-Va.), Tim KaineTimothy (Tim) Michael KaineOvernight Defense: Details on Senate’s 0B defense bill | Bill rejects Trump plan to skirt budget caps | Backfills money for border wall | Defense chief says more troops could head to Mideast Dem senator plans amendment to restrict military action against Iran Overnight Defense: Iran worries dominate foreign policy talk | Pentagon reportedly to send WH plans for 10K troops in Mideast | Democrats warn Trump may push through Saudi arms sale | Lawmakers blast new Pentagon policy on sharing info MORE (D-Va.), Chris Van HollenChristopher (Chris) Van HollenPhoto showing 3-year-old girl high-five new Harriet Tubman mural goes viral The Hill’s Morning Report – Trump says no legislation until Dems end probes Democrats grill Trump Interior chief for saying he hasn’t ‘lost sleep’ over climate change MORE (D-Md.), and Ben CardinBenjamin (Ben) Louis CardinHouse votes to boost retirement savings On The Money: GOP angst grows over Trump’s trade war | Trump promises help for ‘Patriot Farmers’ | Markets rebound | CBO founding director Alice Rivlin dies | Senate to vote on disaster aid bill next week Senators offer bipartisan retirement savings bill MORE (D-Md.) introduced a bill that would renew federal funding to WMATA, but also prevent WMATA from using those funds “on a contract for rolling stock from any country that meets certain criteria related to illegal subsidies for state-owned enterprises.”

All four of those senators previously raised cybersecurity concerns about WMATA allowing a Chinese company to build rail cars, suggesting that the bill would ban funds for contracts with Chinese companies.

In January, the same group of senators sent a letter to WMATA asking for details on how the transit agency planned to “ascertain and mitigate” any involvement of a foreign country in building new rail cars, and how it planned to defend rail cars against potential cyber espionage.

“Many of these technologies could be entirely susceptible to hacking, or other forms of interference, if adequate protections are not in place to ensure they are sourced from safe and reliable suppliers,” the senators wrote.  

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