CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
– HOMELAND SECURITY
May 29, 2009 – 1:53 p.m.
Lawmakers Praise Obama’s Moves to Beef Up Cybersecurity
By Daniel Fowler, CQ Staff
Calling the vulnerability of U.S. computer infrastructure “one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation,” President Obama announced plans Friday to expand the White House’s role in cybersecurity, saying that a cyber czar will lead the way.
“Because of the critical importance of this work, I will personally select this official,” Obama said. “I’ll depend on this official in all matters relating to cybersecurity, and this official will have my full support and regular access to me as we confront these challenges.”
Obama’s moves drew praise from key lawmakers on Capitol Hill, who vowed to work with the president to implement new security measures as needed.
Obama said his cybersecurity adviser —who will be a member of both the National Security Staff and the National Economic Council staff — will head a new office within the White House.
The office will be responsible for “orchestrating and integrating all cybersecurity policies for the government; working closely with the Office of Management and Budget to ensure agency budgets reflect those priorities; and, in the event of a major cyber incident or attack, coordinating our response,” Obama said.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs acknowledged that there was internal friction about whether the new cyber czar would report to the National Security Council or the National Economic Council. He said the president will make it understood to whoever gets the job that he or she will report to both.
Obama’s announcement was the culmination of a 60-day review of the U.S. cybersecurity program, results of which the White House released in a report Friday.
Bipartisan Praise
The White House’s actions were well received by members of Congress.
“We applaud President Obama for highlighting the extraordinarily serious issue of cybersecurity,” Sens. John D. Rockefeller IV , D-W.V., and Olympia J. Snowe , R-Maine, said in a joint statement. “No other president in American history has elevated this issue to that level and we think him for his leadership.”
Rockefeller and Snowe are sponsoring legislation (
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson , D-Miss., and the committee’s top Republican Peter T. King of New York, were also pleased.
“This is a thoughtful review and I agree with many of its findings,” Thompson said, promising to work with the administration “to improve our nation’s cybersecurity posture.”
King labeled Obama’s action “a very positive step.” Going forward, he said, “We have to make sure that all of the federal departments and agencies are properly coordinated in their cybersecurity efforts.”
While House Intelligence Chairman Silvestre Reyes , D-Texas, said the review was “much-needed first step,” he warned that more still needs to be done.
“The results of this 60-day review offer some important recommendations, including the establishment of a cybersecurity coordinator within the Office of the President,” Reyes said. “I look forward to working with the president and his cybersecurity lead to secure and defend America’s networks. Significant challenges remain; in dealing with cybersecurity, the details will prove to be very important.”
After being briefed about the report Thursday, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph I. Lieberman , I-Conn., noted that the country is not adequately prepared or organized to defend against cyber attacks, and thanked Obama for looking at the problem.
“The Senate Homeland Security Committee will work with the Obama administration to improve our defenses against these new high-tech dangers to America,” he said.
One cautionary note came from Susan Collins of Maine, the top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security panel.
“While I commend the president for recognizing the need to strengthen cybersecurity, I don’t think the appointment of yet another ‘czar’ in the White House is the answer to this pressing and complex issue,” she said in a statement. “Placing a strategy ‘czar’ in the White House will hinder Congress’s ability to effectively oversee federal cybersecurity activities and will do little to resolve the bureaucratic conflicts, turf battles, and confusing lines of authority that have undermined past cybersecurity efforts.”
According to Obama, the administration will take a variety of other steps relating to cybersecurity. They include developing a “new comprehensive strategy to secure America’s information and communications networks,” working with state and local governments and the private sector “to ensure an organized and unified response to future cyber incidents,” and investing in the “cutting-edge research and development necessary for the innovation and discovery we need to meet the digital challenges of our time.”
Comments
On the surface, the recent attention to cybersecurity sounds laudable. However, I believe it is in part meant to pave the way for passage of S.773 ( http://tinyurl.com/d8o345 ) which will allow President and Secretary of Commerce to define and re-define the "critical cyber infrastructure" and "have access to all relevant data concerning such networks without regard to any provision of law, regulation, rule, or policy restricting such access." (Sec 14. Public-Private Clearinghouse). Invasion of privacy. If U.S. citizens value corporate or personal privacy, they should write your congress-person(s) and demand this bill be defeated and recognize the risks of the allure of the "cybersecurity" rhetoric.
Boy are they going to love this when the political tides change and Republicans are back in control!! Oh, say what? Obama never will leave office? Just like Honduras?
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