House bill would create National Office for Cyberspace to bolster government’s cyber defenses

A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in response to plans to eliminate a White House cybersecurity coordinator position would create a National Office for Cyberspace to better coordinate cyber defense efforts across the federal government.

The Executive Cyberspace Coordination Act (H.R. 5822), introduced by U.S. Reps. Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Ted Lieu (D-CA), establishes the permanent placement of a White House director of cybersecurity policy to oversee the National Office for Cyberspace.

Langevin said there have been “three excellent cybersecurity coordinators” since the position originated, and it would be “an enormous step backwards to deemphasize the importance of this growing domain within the White House.”

“We need a designated expert to harmonize cyber policy across the many agencies in government with responsibility in this space,’ Langevin, co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, said. “We also need clear communication of administration positions on cybersecurity challenges, whether during major incidents or when establishing norms of responsible state behavior in cyberspace.”

Calling the decision to eliminate the top White House cyber policy role “outrageous,” Lieu said the United States faces “more hostile threats from foreign adversaries than ever before.”

“This move impedes our country’s strategic efforts to counter cybersecurity threats against our country,” Lieu said. “Fortunately, our bill will fill in those holes in government cybersecurity oversight by creating a National Office for Cyberspace in the White House. A coordinated effort to keep our information systems safe is paramount if we want to counter the cyber threats posed by foes like Russia, Iran, and China.”

Under H.R. 5822, the Senate-confirmed director of the National Office for Cyberspace would be tasked with recommending security measures and budgets for federal agencies, coordinating cyberspace issues and ensuring civil liberties are upheld, and centralizing federal information infrastructure defense efforts.