U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, today released the following statement in response to the Administration’s release of its Cyberspace Policy Review which would create a White House “cyber czar:”
“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. 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.
“The security of our nation’s critical cyber infrastructure will require strategic coordination at the highest levels of government, but strategies alone will not secure our networks. With our nation’s cyber infrastructure under attack every day, securing critical systems will require effective day-to-day management, including the authority to recommend best practices, modify information technology procurement standards, coordinate action to prevent and mitigate vulnerabilities, encourage innovation, and, when necessary, enforce compliance to prevent the loss of crucial services or sensitive information.”