No Need for IT in Cabinet

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano shot down the prospect of a cabinet-level information technology position during an online video address on Tuesday.

In response to a submitted question asking whether a cabinet-level position that is responsible for "technology and related effects, such as cybersecurity," Napolitano said that "segregating the IT function no longer is adequate," because computer networks and services are "part and parcel of everything we do."

Napolitano pointed to the federal chief information officer and chief technology officer, positions held by Vivek Kundra and Aneesh Chopra, respectively, as well as the yet-to-be-appointed cybersecurity coordinator as responsible for cross-government coordination of IT out of the White House.

"Government has the responsibility to lead," Napolitano said in prepared remarks. "Across the federal family, we're responding aggressively . . . [but] we still need to do more."