Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) has said he will block efforts to change the current dual-hat leadership structure for the National Security Agency and the U.S. Cyber Command, Defense News reported Tuesday.
Joe Gould writes the Senate Armed Services Committee chair vowed to oppose the White House’s nomination of any official to lead the NSA if the administration opts to split the agency from Cybercom.
McCain made the remarks in light of reports that Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper are eyeing a separation of the two organizations, according to Gould’s article.
Navy Adm. Michael Rogers concurrently serves as commander of Cybercom and director of NSA.
“I do not believe rushing to separate the dual hat in the final months of an administration is appropriate given the very serious challenges we face in cyberspace and the failure of this administration to develop an effective deterrence policy,” McCain was quoted as saying by Defense News.
