State Department Makes Inroads for Public-Private Tech Partnerships at Home

Leaders within the State Department traveled to San Francisco, California last week in an effort to strengthen the public and private technology partnerships, a key tenant in the Biden Administration’s plan to create a robust digital infrastructure in the U.S.

Jennifer Bachus, Senior Bureau Official for Cyberspace and Digital Policy traveled to the Bay Area of California, home to Silicon Valley, in an effort to work with private sector leaders on key policy initiatives, including internet connectivity, data policy and its impacts on cybersecurity, cyber workforce development and free expression and safety online.

A State Department spokesperson confirmed to Nextgov that this visit was the first in what the agency and bureau predicts will be frequent communication on collaborative efforts across various tech policy issues. 

“Tech companies, industry associations, civil society organizations and foreign government officials are important partners for the State Department on issues of cyberspace security, international communications and information policy, and digital freedom,” the spokesperson said. “Maintaining communication with external partners underscores our commitment to a multistakeholder approach to Internet governance and helps us identify issues where the State Department should focus its attention.”

Bachus and the agency's Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy work to advance “digital diplomacy” by coordinating a state response to national tech policy programs and needs. 

Multiple federal agencies are enthusiastic about forming new and strengthening existing partnerships between public and private organizations. The Government Accountability Office and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency voiced their support for more strategic partnerships, and lawmakers included private cybersecurity partnerships as a paramount feature in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022.