Thanks to a bipartisan effort from U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Mitt Romney (R-UT), the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act will now include a $21 million carve-out for the Office of the National Cyber Director (NCD).
The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act debuted this week after months of negotiations between lawmakers and the White House. The massive bill would provide $1.2 trillion for roads, bridges, transit, broadband, and water infrastructure, among other things, over the course of eight years. However, the addition of the NCD funding also uses the opportunity to make room for a brand new federal position to coordinate the rollout of a national cybersecurity policy and strategy.
This year has seen numerous cyberattacks lobbied against infrastructure sources, among others.
“The size, scope, and frequency of cyber attacks has made it abundantly clear that the United States’ cyber warfare readiness is extraordinarily weak,” Romney said. “This important funding will support the Office of the National Cyber Director in developing and implementing a national cybersecurity policy and strategy, which will better protect our country from growing cyber threats.”
At issue, however, is that the NCD was created in the middle of a fiscal year. As a result, Congress has yet to appropriate funding for it. Senators seized on the opportunity, particularly as cyberattacks pick up pace and prominence. This will provide funding for a single year, though, and will not be repeated.
“As we work hard to negotiate investments in our infrastructure priorities, it’s essential to support and strengthen the security of our digital networks — which connect our economy and culture just as much as our highways, railways, and bridges,” King, co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission that created the position of National Cyber Director, said. “As we strengthen our networks against global cyberthreats and ransomware criminals, we must ensure that Director Inglis has the resources to implement a comprehensive plan to protect our society, economy, and nation from those seeking to do us harm.”
In June, Chris Inglis, a former deputy director of the National Security Agency, was confirmed as President Joe Biden’s national cyber director.