The White House is blaming Republicans for failing to do everything they can to help the U.S. government protect the nation from cyberattacks, in the wake of new FBI evidence that foreign hackers penetrated two state election databases in recent weeks.

"What's true is that President Obama has made cyber-security a national priority … I think there are significant concerns being raised about whether Republicans in Congress have made it a priority," presidential press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.

Earnest argued that Obama included a special proposal for cybersecurity in his budget proposal early this year, but said Republicans "wouldn't even hold a hearing to talk about the issue."

Under Obama's leadership, he continued, the administration has worked to help safeguard the private sector computer networks, including some media organizations' systems, against foreign and domestic hackers.

"We only wish Republicans were able to put the cybersecurity concerns of the American people above their own politics," he said.

Asked whether he believes the government has done enough to protect against hacks both in government and the private sector, Earnest said the administration has treated it as a serious threat and has taken the kind of "appropriate steps that the American people would expect their government to take."

"But there is more we can do if Republicans in Congress would do their job," he added.

The FBI issued a warning from its Cyber Division Tuesday, alerting states and local law enforcement officials that two state voting systems have been hacked and warning election officials across the country to take new steps to enhance the security of their computer systems, according to a report on Yahoo News.