Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Snowe: Cyber Security Coordinator Lacks Accountability

A Congressional Daily article by Chris Strohm, via NextGov.com, reports:

A senior Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee criticized the Obama administration Tuesday for appointing a cybersecurity coordinator who cannot testify before Congress.

The committee heard from former federal cybersecurity officials and other experts who sounded alarm bells that the nation is failing to mount an effective defense against attacks on critical infrastructure networks, such as those in the nation's financial industry, telecommunications system and electrical grid.

"If the nation went to war today in a cyber war, we would lose," said retired Adm. Michael McConnell, who served as director of national intelligence in the Bush administration. "We're the most vulnerable. We're the most connected. We have the most to lose."

Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, noted that absent from the hearing was Howard Schmidt, who President Obama appointed in December as the nation's first cybersecurity coordinator.

More here.

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