Some former government cybersecurity experts said at a House committee hearing held Wednesday they believe Congress should elevate the Department of Homeland Security’s authority to protect federal networks, Nextgov reported Wednesday.Joseph Marks writes House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul asked a panel of four cyber specialists during the panel meeting about their views on a proposed bill to realign DHS’ National Protection and Programs Directorate.
McCaul introduced a bill last year that sought to rebrand NPPD as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Agency and split the directorate into cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, emergency communications and federal protective service divisions, Marks reported.
Retired Gen. Keith Alexander, former commander of the U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency, called for the formation of a single civilian cyber defense agency within DHS or another federal department that would collaborate with the departments of Defense and Justice on cybersecurity efforts.
Frank Cilluffo, who served as special assistant to the president for homeland security in the George W. Bush administration, told the committee that DHS should focus its cyber efforts more on the four lifeline sectors.
