The Biden administration wants to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to protecting government computer systems from hackers. The White House is asking Congress to commit roughly $10 billion to civilian government cybersecurity next year – a jump of nearly 14 percent. Far more than that would go to funding military cyber operations, but the exact number isn't clear because so much military cyber work is classified. The super-sized requests reflect a punishing past six months for the nation's cybersecurity, including major hacks from Russia and China, which stole reams of classified government information. It also reflects the government's scrambling efforts to respond to a wave of criminal hacks, including a ransomware attack against Colonial Pipeline that played havoc with gas supplies in the southeastern United States. U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo | The cyber proposal is part of a blockbuster $6 trillion administration budget request aimed at broadening the social safety net and reshaping the U.S. economy. The proposed budget includes $750 million worth of fixes designed specifically to "respond to lessons learned" from the Solar Winds hack. Another $110 million would go to the Homeland Security Department's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which is increasingly acting as a cybersecurity traffic cop across the government. There's also $500 million for a fund to retire outdated government technology systems that can make federal agencies more vulnerable to hacking and to replace them with updated systems with more modern cybersecurity protections. The proposal also funds a raft of new programs and offices recommended last year by a congressional-led cybersecurity panel. That includes funding a new cyber director's office inside the White House tasked with creating a unified government response to cybersecurity challenges. Members of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission described creating that office as one of their most important recommendations and it was later mandated by Congress. Biden nominated Chris Inglis, a former National Security Agency deputy director and a member of the commission to fill the role but he hasn't been confirmed yet. Here's more from Christian Beckner, vice president at the National Retail Federation industry group: And from Politico's Eric Geller: | Here's a full rundown from CyberScoop's Tim Starks. | The White House request is just a blueprint for Congress, so the big new investments are far from guaranteed. But congressional cybersecurity advocates are pushing for major investments along similar lines. Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.) and Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) are urging House appropriators to give a $400 million boost to DHS cybersecurity. Gallagher was a co-chair of the solarium commission. Langevin was a member of the commission and is co-founder of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) is pushing appropriators to add more funding for all of DHS's defense-related activities, including cybersecurity. Ruppersberger, who was formerly top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, has long advocated for rejiggering arcane congressional budget rules, so there's more money available for DHS's cybersecurity work. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) also wrote to the White House, expressing concern that the president's overall budget request for DHS isn't enough for the agency to deal with cybersecurity and other threats. Hassan chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee's panel on emerging threats. "I am concerned that the budget request for DHS is essentially flat, and as a result may not provide what is needed to address the myriad threats facing the United States today," she wrote. And some cybersecurity pros are also pushing for more funding. Here's Katie Moussouris, CEO of Luta Security and a consultant on government cybersecurity projects: Jamieson Brown, senior director of global government affairs at Tenable Security: | | | Share The Cybersecurity 202 | | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment