A Cyberattack Could Make N.Y. State’s Late Budget Even Later

First it was an earthquake, then an eclipse. What else could throw a wrench into the works of New York’s budget process?

A cyberattack.

The early-morning attack affected the New York State Bill Drafting Commission, a little-known legislative agency responsible for writing and printing bills — temporarily disabling a critical system as the Legislature and the governor move closer to a full agreement on the state budget, now 16 days late.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said that the attack was expected to slow down the process on the legislative side, adding that it would force the state to dust off computer systems from the early ’90s.

“We have to go back to the more antiquated system we had in place from 1994,” Ms. Hochul said in an interview with Brian Lehrer on WNYC. She said it was too soon to determine whether the attack had been politically motivated, adding that the state’s cybersecurity team was scrutinizing it.

But representatives for the State Legislature seemed less concerned that the attack would be disruptive, stressing that staff were continuing to work regularly with both houses even as they sought to resolve the issue.

“Nothing is delayed,” said Mike Whyland, a spokesman for the Democratic majority in the State Assembly.