Several members of Congress this week introduced aimed at strengthening congressional oversight of United States military cyber capability and operations, and directing the White House to develop a strategy for offensive operations by federal departments and agencies.
One bill, H.R. 2807, sponsored by several leaders of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), directs the Defense Department to notify congressional defense committees within 48 hours following any sensitive military cyber operations outside an area where U.S. armed forces are engaged in hostilities.
“While there are programs that must necessarily remain classified to keep the country safe, Congress still has a responsibility to conduct appropriate oversight in order to protect our security and our essential freedoms at the same time,” Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), HASC chairman, said in a statement on Thursday. “This proposal to enhance congressional oversight of sensitive military operations and cyber weapons will help achieve that balance by promoting greater transparency and accountability for some of the most classified elements of our national defense.”
The bill also applies to cyber weapons used by the U.S.
The HASC bill was also sponsored by Reps. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member on the committee, Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), chairman of the Subcommittee and Emerging Threats and Capabilities, and James Langevin (D-R.I.), ranking member on the subcommittee.
On Wednesday, Rep. Luis Correa (D-Calif.) introduced the Enhanced Partner Cyber Capabilities Act (H.R. 2812), which calls on the president to develop a written strategy for federal agencies for the offensive use of cyber capabilities by federal agencies. It also requires a description of the enhancements needed to improve the offensive cyber capabilities of the U.S. and its foreign partners, including NATO.
His bill, which currently has no co-sponsors, also includes a section directs DoD to updates its two-year old cyber strategy, to include “plans for the offensive use of cyber capabilities, including computer network exploitation and computer network attacks, to thwart air, land, or sea attacks by the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other adversaries.”
“World War 3 is raging right now in cyberspace,” Correa said in a statement. “With the increased frequency of cyber attacks executed by foreign adversaries from engaging in the types of cyber espionage we saw during the past election. Protecting our networks is vital to privacy and the health of our democracy.”
Correa’s bill would also have DoD work with NATO partners through the organization’s Cooperative Cyber Center of Excellence in developing offensive cyber capabilities.