WASHINGTON – Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson and Ranking Member Claire McCaskill are requesting that the Departments of Homeland Security, State, Defense, Treasury, and Commerce submit to the Committee the required reports from President Trump’s Executive Order on cybersecurity.
President Trump’s May Executive Order called for reports from the agencies on their international cybersecurity priorities that could include information such as plans to work with foreign partners to determine the source of a cyberattack and the response. As Senators McCaskill and Johnson detail in their letters to the agency heads, “the reports will be useful as the Committee continues its oversight responsibility over the nation’s cybersecurity.”
“We’re in a new era where cyberattacks from our enemies could devastate our country in ways ranging from hacking government computers to access our nation’s secrets to shutting down our electrical systems,” McCaskill said. “I was glad to see President Trump’s Executive Order to strengthen our country’s cybersecurity, and I look forward to hearing from key agencies about their plans to work with our international partners to protect against and respond to cyberattacks.”
“Cyberattacks are a real and growing threat. Obtaining these reports will be helpful as the committee continues its oversight to improve America’s national and cyber security,” Chairman Johnson said.
The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has legislative and oversight jurisdiction over federal agencies’ national security methods and processes, including cybersecurity. Read the Senators’ letters to the heads of the Departments of Homeland Security, State, Defense, Treasury, and Commerce HERE.
###