Reps. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., and Ted Lieu. D-Calif., aim to mandate that the Trump administration fill its cyber coordinator position left vacant in the wake of Rob Joyce’s departurein early May 2018. The two congressmen introduced the Executive Cyberspace Coordination Act May 15, 2018, which would create a National Office for Cyberspace in the Executive Office of the President, cementing a new cyber advisory role within the White House into law. “We have had three excellent cybersecurity coordinators since the late Howard Schmidt originated the position. It is an enormous step backwards to deemphasize the importance of this growing domain within the White House,” Langevin said in a news release on the bill. “We need a designated expert to harmonize cyber policy across the many agencies in government with responsibility in this space. We also need clear communication of administration positions on cybersecurity challenges, whether during major incidents or when establishing norms of responsible state behavior in cyberspace.”
The cyber coordinator role was originally established by President Barack Obama in 2009, and was held by two cyber experts prior to Joyce.
Reports surfaced just days before Joyce’s departure that the new national security adviser, John Bolton, was looking to cut the position in order to streamline authority in the White House. An aide to Bolton wrote an email to National Security Council employees May 15 announcing that the cyber coordinator role would be officially ending, Politico originally reported.
Full Article: Legislation would force Trump to fill vacant cyber post.