State Department Technical Difficulties

The U.S. State Department has posted the following message:

All Department of State offices – including U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad, the National Visa Center (NVC), and the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) – are currently experiencing technical difficulties due to systems maintenance. These maintenance efforts may result in delays in some services. Department of State offices are also experiencing difficulties receiving and sending email, and all inquirers – including members of Congress, U.S. citizens, and visa applicants – may experience delays in response to their emails. U.S. citizens requiring emergency assistance should contact their embassy or consulate by telephone. We apologize for the inconvenience this unavoidable systems maintenance is causing and appreciate your patience.

Russian nationals, likely working for the Russian government, are suspected by the FBI of hacking the State Department’s IT systems, according to CNN.