The recent global tech outage, which disrupted multiple industries, has prompted the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee to request testimony from CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz.
The committee's letter, sent on Monday, calls for an explanation of the widespread computer crashes caused by a flawed update to CrowdStrike’s security software. This incident affected approximately 8.5 million Windows devices and disrupted services in sectors such as airlines, banking, and healthcare.
Services were gradually restored, but many businesses faced lingering issues including backlogs, delays, and canceled flights. The situation has sparked a debate on whether critical software should be managed by a limited number of companies, given the scale of the disruption.
The congressional panel emphasized the seriousness of the event, noting that it has been described as possibly the largest IT outage in history. They acknowledged CrowdStrike's efforts to coordinate with stakeholders but underscored the need for a thorough examination to prevent future occurrences.
A CrowdStrike spokesperson confirmed that the company is in ongoing communication with relevant Congressional Committees, and further briefings will be scheduled as necessary.
