Lawmakers support cybersecurity funding initiative

A trio of lawmakers recently requested funds for the Department of Homeland Security’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program, which provides cybersecurity network enhancement.

Reps. John Ratcliffe (R-TX), Jim Langevin (D-RI), and Will Hurd (R-TX) recently forwarded correspondence to the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Homeland Security seeking $237 million allowing federal agencies to secure their networks, systems, and data with the goal of strengthening federal cybersecurity posture for the .gov.

The lawmakers said also CDM expands the speed and scope of information sharing and motivates agencies to implement best practices across their enterprise.

“The CDM program is of paramount importance because of its ability to provide the federal enterprise with the ability to monitor and assess the vulnerabilities and threats to its networks and systems in an ever-changing cyber threat landscape,”
the lawmakers wrote. “As such, we respectfully request that you include $237 million in the Fiscal Year 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations legislation to help the CDM program and DHS’ overarching cybersecurity mission of providing federal departments and agencies with the capabilities and tools they need to secure networks and systems from intrusions.”

Officials said six years ago DHS launched the roll-out of a four-phase process allowing CDM to provide Americans the kind of federal cybersecurity they deserve.