D.C.-area Institutions Modify Operations Due to Global Technology Outage: What Happened?

The D.C.-area was thrown into chaos on Friday as a global technology outage wreaked havoc on institutions such as hospitals, courts, and transit services. The outage, which was caused by a faulty software update issued by a cybersecurity firm and affected customers running Microsoft Windows, led to widespread disruptions across the region.

At the three major airports in the D.C. area, passengers faced delays and cancellations as airlines lost access to check-in and booking services. Long lines formed at Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport, with some disruptions continuing into the afternoon.

Meanwhile, the region’s largest transit agency experienced delays early Friday morning, affecting bus and train services. Despite the challenges, buses and trains were eventually back on schedule.

Local hospitals also felt the impact of the outage, with disruptions to technology systems affecting access to electronic health records, transcription services, and care coordination systems. However, hospital services remained open, with staff resorting to traditional methods like paper and pencil to ensure patient care continued.

Government services were also disrupted, with Virginia’s DMV offices closed and Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Association offices experiencing service disruptions. Maryland’s court system announced closures to the public for the day, with only emergency matters being dealt with.

Despite the chaos, Metro services were back on schedule, with the website and trip planning applications back online. The White House was in contact with CrowdStrike executives, the cybersecurity firm responsible for the faulty update, to assess the impact on government operations.

As the region grappled with the fallout from the technology outage, residents and travelers were urged to stay informed and patient as institutions worked to restore normal operations.