The federal government’s management of cyber issues is, at this point, notoriously terrible. And since the problems stretch across various agencies, one senator seems to think the problem is not enough government agencies.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is unhappy with the way cybersecurity duties are currently spread out throughout the government: “The Department of Homeland Security is charged with protecting our non-national security networks and working with the private sector, the FBI and Secret Service are responsible for investigating cybercrime, and the Department of Defense is responsible for defending its own systems,” he noted Friday, in floor remarks reported by The Hill.
“The nature of the cybersecurity threat demands a greater, more holistic approach,” Hatch argued. “The lack of placing direct responsibility in the hands of one organization is troubling since it appears to violate the leadership, managerial and military principle of unity of command.”
Although Hatch has not devised an official cybersecurity plan, he suggested considering the creation of a new agency singularly devoted to cyber issues, “the Cyber Defense Administration.” He envisions one agency that would tend to government websites—a number of which were hacked over the past year—and guard infrastructure, something national security experts often claim is vulnerable to attack.
The president recently unveiled his own cybersecurity legislation, but Hatch believes it was an insufficient attempt. “Mr. President, much work remains to be done on this subject, especially from the standpoint of the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security,” he said, urging the Senate to also take up reform: “We too have a unity of effort issue and the Senate should consider means to concentrate this body’s expertise on this critical matter.”
