Following a review of the US and federal government’s cyber security profile conducted by the National Security Council and Homeland Security Council, President Obama announced the creation of a new office in the White House to be led a "cyber-security coordinator" to much applause.
However, the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee isn’t so sure that’s a great idea. "While I commend the President for recognizing the need to strengthen cyber-security, I don’t think the appointment of yet another ‘czar’ in the White House is the answer to this pressing and complex issue," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Obama stated that the new office would orchestrate and integrate all cyber-security policies for the government, work closely with OMB to ensure agency budgets reflect those priorities and coordinate the response to a major cyber incident or attack.
Collins said installing a strategy czar in the White House would hinder Congress in its effort "to oversee federal cyber-security activities and will do little to resolve the bureaucratic conflicts, turf battles, and confusing lines of authority that have undermined past cyber-security efforts."
