The top Republican and Democrat on a Senate committee have asked five federal department heads for their cyber security plans that were directed to be prepared by President Donald Trump as part of an executive order he issued in May.
Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), the ranking member, sent letters on Aug. 29 to the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, State and Treasury seeking six reports that either were due, or expected shortly, pursuant to the president’s May 11 directive.
“Cyberattacks are a real and growing threat,” Johnson said in a statement Aug. 30. “Obtaining these reports will be helpful as the committee continues its oversight to improve America’s national and cyber security.”
Five of the reports, all dealing with international cyber security coordination and priorities from all the departments, were due to the White House by June 23. The State Department is required by the executive order to deliver a follow-up report 90 days after the first on “an engagement strategy for international cooperation in cybersecurity.”
The executive order holds department and agency heads accountable for security their enterprise networks and calls for shared information technology services and consolidated networks across the federal government. It also seeks a report from seven departments and agencies on options for deterring adversaries from conducting cyber attacks. Johnson and McCaskill didn’t seek this report or others, including one on cyber security risks to the defense industrial base.
The committee says its oversight of the “national security methods and processes” of federal agencies gives it jurisdiction to seek the cyber security reports.