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Staff Contact: Margaret Moree
Cybersecurity In the News
In his resignation letter to Secretary Napolitano, former National Cybersecurity Center director Rod Beckstrom warned against a single entity overseeing all cyber initiatives saying such a strategy would threaten democratic processes and advocated for a cybersecurity model where "DHS interfaces with, but is not controlled by, the NSA". The Wall Street Journal reported that the resignation letter illustrates the challenge ahead for the Obama administration as it plans its defense against governments and terrorists who might try to disrupt US computer systems.
Meanwhile the head of the Pentagon’s Strategic Command in testimony to the House Armed Services subcommittee that the US is vulnerable to cyberattacks “across the spectrum” and that more needs to be done to defend against the potential of online strikes.
Melissa Hathaway who is directing the Obama administration’s 60-day review of cyberspace policy said earlier this month “the national dialogue on cybersecurity must advance now.” The House Homeland Security Emerging Threats Subcommittee Chairwoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) in a hearing she conducted in mid-March hoped the 60 day review of federal cybersecurity would result in a mandate for a national strategy for safeguarding cyberspace and the commitment of executive-branch involvement and is anticipating that Hathaway’s audit will clearly delineate roles and responsibilities of each agency with a stake in cybersecurity.
The US Senate Committee on Homeland Security holds a hearing, which will be webcast, on Tuesday April 28, on developing a national strategy for cybersecurity.
GAO to TSA: Making Progress But Room to Improve
In two separate reviews, the GAO reported to Congress on the Transportation Security Administration’s efforts to meet air cargo screening mandates and actions taken to evaluate the security risks associated with the commercial vehicle sector. GAO found the TSA has taken steps that will allow screening responsibilities to be shared across the air cargo supply chain but believes that TSA and industry stakeholders face a number of challenges in meeting the screening mandate, including attracting participants to the Certified Cargo Screening Program. In a report released in February on commercial vehicle security, the GAO recommends that the TSA develop a plan and timeframe for completing risk assessments, develop performance measures that assess the effectiveness of federal commercial vehicle security programs, define stakeholder roles and responsibilities and assess its coordination efforts.
FEMA: Grants Announced; Training Tools Released
FEMA and the US Army Corps of Engineers have made available several new, user-friendly tools to partners to enhance state and local capability to stand up and operate Points of Distribution during and immediately after disaster events. FEMA also announced final allocations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Preparedness Grants for 10 federal grant programs, totaling nearly $970 million in federal funding to assist state, local and tribal governments and private industry in strengthening community preparedness – including sizeable grants to New York State.
Business Opportunities?
If doing business with DHS is on your radar, or already part of your portfolio, make sure you’ve signed up to receive weekly updates from DHS on federal stimulus related issues and investment. DHS also announced it is replacing the system it uses to record contractor performance information.
Politico.com reports that contractors are looking for growth areas in anticipation of reduced investments in weapons systems and military hardware.
Odds & Ends
The Coast Guard issued its final rule to consolidate the regulations covering issuance of merchant mariner qualification credentials, to reduce the burden on mariners by limiting the number of times they need to appear in person to provide fingerprints and proof of identity. This final rule works in tandem with the joint final rule published by the Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration on January 25, 2007, entitled ‘‘Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Implementation in the Maritime Sector; Hazardous Materials Endorsement for a Commercial Driver’s License’’.
DHS announced a two-day public workshop to be held in Washington, DC to discuss the privacy issues posed by government use of social media. This workshop is intended to help federal agencies to engage the public through social media in a privacy-protective manner and to explore best practices that agencies can use to implement President Obama’s Open Government Memorandum issued January 21, 2009.
The Department of the Treasury released its implementation rules on the terrorism risk insurance program.
And finally, the President issued a memorandum requiring the Director of the Office of Science & Technology Policy to craft recommendations for presidential action to ensure scientific integrity in the executive branch. A Federal Register notice issued on April 23rd solicits public input to inform the drafting of these recommendations, open for a 21 day comment period.
Join Homeland Security Council Members in DC
The Congressional Exchange is set for June 10-11 in Washington, DC. In response to member surveys, this year’s event will offer federal agency briefings targeted to potential business opportunities with the DHS, TSA and Department of Energy. Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from Congressman Eric Massa, who sits on the House Homeland Security Committee and several of its subcommittees. Congresswoman Yvette Clark has been invited to speak on her policy objectives related to cybersecurity. Sponsorship and agenda information can be found on The Business Council’s Events page.
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