House to launch cybersecurity review
House lawmakers are ramping up their oversight of the multibillion-dollar effort to protect government computer networks amid concerns that the Obama administration has put its cybersecurity agenda on the back burner.
"Cybersecurity is a very serious issue, [and] we have a long way to go," House Intelligence Technical and Tactical Intelligence Subcommittee Chairman C.A. (Dutch) Ruppersberger, D-Md., said in an interview.
Ruppersberger, who also serves on the House Appropriations Committee, said he is launching a series of strategy and budget meetings with officials from federal agencies and private companies who deal with cybersecurity. He said he plans to produce a comprehensive report with recommendations.
"We need a road map to [help us] decide what we're going to do because this is going to cost us billions of dollars. And the government can't do it all," he said.
He said he has asked Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., who serves on the Intelligence panel and the House Armed Services Committee, to help run the meetings. The goal, he said, is to prevent problems that have occurred with other major federal programs, such as billions of taxpayer dollars wasted on failed efforts to replace spy satellites.
"I think President Obama gets it. He understands what we need to do. Unfortunately, it's been put on the shelf," Ruppersberger said. He noted that the White House is consumed with issues such as crafting healthcare legislation and developing a strategy for the war in Afghanistan.
"I would encourage the president to put it back on the priority list," he added.
He expressed frustration that Melissa Hathaway, who led a 60-day White House review of cybersecurity efforts, left the administration last month to return to the private sector. She was widely regarded as a strong candidate for the position of national cybersecurity adviser.
Obama pledged during his campaign for president to appoint a so-called "cyber czar," but has yet to do so.
"If they weren't going to make [Hathaway] the cyber czar, at least have her stay for a period of time, because she probably was the one person that knew the commercial side, worked with the military, worked with the [National Security Agency] and pulled it all together," Ruppersberger said.
"I really hope we can pull her back somehow because I don't see where we're going," he added. "We were really moving and had some momentum and now it's all pulled back. This is a major issue as far as funding is concerned."
Across Capitol Hill, senators have begun advancing comprehensive cybersecurity legislation. A battle is brewing over whether a White House cyber czar or the Homeland Security Department should be in charge of cybersecurity efforts.
Weighing in on the issue, Ruppersberger said he does not believe Homeland Security should be in charge.
"I think they're part of the team; there's no question," he said. "But I think that you need a direct line to the president here. This is such an important issue for our national security, you need a direct line to the president and he needs to be briefed on this on a regular basis."
"In the end, you do need one boss," he added.
He said the cyber czar should be empowered to make budget decisions and hire staff, similar to powers Congress granted when it created the position of national intelligence director.
On another controversial issue, Ruppersberger said the NSA, which is based in his district, should play a key role on the technical side of cybersecurity. Critics fear NSA involvement, arguing that the agency violated the law in helping the previous administration monitor the communications of citizens without warrants.
But Ruppersberger said he believes the NSA will abide by proper checks and balances to ensure that privacy rights and civil liberties are protected.