The Cybersecurity 202: Biden administration issues executive order in wake of pipeline attack Tonya Riley
with Aaron Schaffer In the wake of yet another major cyberattack, the Biden administration unveiled a historic cybersecurity directive that officials hope will initiate major change in U.S. cybersecurity standards. The directive outlines a number of measures to strengthen federal cybersecurity, including instilling more rigorous security requirements for software providers that contract with the federal government, improving reporting practices for cybersecurity incidents and requiring federal agencies to adopt better security practices.
“We simply cannot let waiting for the next incident to happen to be the status quo under which we operate, a White House official said.
Biden Issues Executive Order to Bolster Nation’s Cybersecurity President Joe Biden takes questions from reporters as he speaks about the American Rescue Plan, in the State Dining Room of the White House. AP Photo/Evan Vucci Get the latest federal technology news delivered to your inbox.
email May 12, 2021
The administration calls for a standardized federal playbook and review board for incident response, as well as changes to software procurement.
It comes as the United States grapples with multiple ongoing cybersecurity incidents.
“Federal agencies can’t defend what they can’t see,” a senior administration official said during a call to preview the order with reporters. The official added that the effort “is about taking the steps necessary to prevent cyber intrusions from happening in the first place, and second ensuring we’re well-positioned to act rapidly.”
Who else will be there: Testifying alongside Miller on Wednesday will be former acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee.
In his testimony, Rosen will similarly defend preparations ahead of the attack, according to a copy of remarks obtained by The Hill.
Rosen’s defense: “I believe that DOJ [Department of Justice] reasonably prepared for contingencies ahead of January 6, understanding that there was considerable uncertainty as to how many people would arrive, who those people would be, and precisely what purposes they would pursue. Unlike the police, DOJ had no frontline role with respect to crowd control,” Rosen wrote. “But DOJ took appropriate precautions to have tactical support available if contingencies led to them being called upon.”
Review of Space Command basing decision sought by Senate Intel members 3 days ago More than 100 U.S. Space Command personnel and 900 total participants took part in Global Lightning 2021 March 8-12, which integrated space capabilities into a multi-domain exercise at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. (Lewis Carlyle/U.S. Space Command) Two Democrats on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence are sending another message to the White House in the fight to keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado: It’s bad for the intelligence community. The May 11 letter is the latest missive from Capitol Hill as Colorado tries to convince the executive branch to reverse the Trump administration’s preliminary decision in January to move SPACECOM headquarters to Alabama. The command is currently based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., near a host of other important military space installations.
Senate Intelligence Committee chair urges Biden to review decision to move Space Command
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) The Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, sent President Joe Biden a letter today requesting the administration review the methods used in the decision to move Space Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama.
Colorado officials have previously expressed concerns that the decision to move Space Command s headquarters from Colorado Springs was politically motivated by former President Donald Trump. As members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, we are concerned this decision did not take into account how such a move may affect Intelligence Community (IC) dependencies and missions. We therefore request you review the process by which this decision was made, and to ensure IC equities are fully considered, the letter sent to Biden said.