U.S. Sens. John Boozman (R-AR) and John Kennedy (R-LA) recently joined a group of colleagues advocating bolstered efforts that focus on preventing cyberattacks initiated by Russia or its representatives.
Boozman and Kennedy and 11 other Senate members signed correspondence to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to secure cybersecurity resources for private and public institutions.
“The realm of cyber escalation remains largely unexplored,” the legislators wrote. “Presently, Russia is justly cornered by extreme sanctions measures, and there are concerns it will lash out against the United States through non-kinetic attacks. Even beyond the current Russian-induced conflict, cyber threats are growing faster than our private, state, and local institutions can adapt to them.”
The senators inquired about U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Homeland Security measures focused on reducing the nation’s cyber vulnerabilities and the status of domestic institutions’ preparedness for a Russian cyber offensive.
“From banks, hospitals, liquified natural gas terminals, bridges and roads, our institutions need to be informed and supported by the federal government in order to be prepared to absorb and rebuff offensive cyber operations by foreign adversaries,” the legislators concluded. “We must act now, with increased haste, before we find ourselves under a major retaliatory cyber offensive that causes extreme disruption in the lives of everyday Americans.”
Via the correspondence, Austin and Mayorkas were also asked to provide a written assessment of recent cumulative cyber activities against the United States, per officials, or activities against domestic-based private institutions by Russia or a suspected proxy.