House bill backs new cyber program at Energy

The Washington, D.C. headquarters of the Department of Energy. (Photo credit: 4kclips/Shutterstock.com)

The administration's request for a new budget line for cybersecurity activities at the Department of Energy earned big backing in an FY2019 appropriations bill.

The bill provides $146 million -- $50 million more than the administration's request – to establish the Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response unit at DOE. Under the bill, $11 million of the funds would be available for two years -- giving the department additional flexibility to manage its spending.

The Trump administration requested of $96 million to set up the office in February.

At a March Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, Energy Secretary Rick Perry said CESER would help consolidate funding to address the agency's expanding cybersecurity responsibilities. He said it would also establish a more direct line of intra-agency communications concerning cyber threats to energy infrastructure.