Obama: U.S. aware government computers could be hacked
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany — In the wake of a massive hack of federal employee records, President Obama said Monday that the government has been aware that its computer systems are vulnerable.
Obama said the latest breach of government personnel records was discovered while old computer systems were being upgraded.
The U.S. government has said it believes China is behind the hacking, an allegation that Beijing denied.
Speaking at a news conference at the conclusion of the Group of Seven summit of world leaders, Obama also warned that the hacking problem isn't going away. He said various governments and individuals are "throwing everything they've got" at breaking into U.S. computer systems, so the U.S. must be more attentive to cybersecurity.
Asked about the pending Supreme Court ruling on a challenge to the Affordable Care Act — his landmark health insurance plan often called Obamacare — the president said he did not see a reason for it to end up in court.
"It's working," Obama said, noting that 16 million people who did not have health insurance now do.
The Supreme Court will rule by the end of June on whether Congress authorized federal subsidy payments regardless of where people live, or only for those in states that created insurance marketplaces.
On separate court challenges to his immigration plan that would prevent millions of undocumented workers from being deported, Obama said his administration was being as aggressive as it could be, legally. "Obviously I'm frustrated," the president said.
Asked about FIFA soccer corruption scandal, Obama said he was not prepared to comment in detail about the ongoing Justice Department investigation into world soccer's governing body. But based on conversations he had with leaders and officials in Europe, Obama did say it was clear the sport needed accountability and transparency.
"Football, or soccer, depending on what side of the Atlantic you live on, is a game, but it's also a big business," Obama said.