How the U.S. Department of Justice Can Improve Its Approach to Combat Ransomware Attacks

**Executive summary:** The DOJ Office of the Inspector General reviewed Department and FBI responses to ransomware (Apr 2021–Sep 2023), noting a sharp increase in ransom payments and incidents across critical sectors such as healthcare and aviation, and recommending clearer metrics, faster case action, and stronger public–private coordination to disrupt criminal and nation-state ransomware actors.