Congress passes bill that create new Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency at DHS
16.11.2018 securityaffairs BigBrothers

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the CISA bill that creates a new cybersecurity agency at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

In October, the Senate passed the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Act (H.R. 3359), now the Congress passed the legislation unanimously and it is going to be signed by the President.

When the bill will be signed the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) will become the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) with the responsibility for cyber and physical infrastructure security.

“The National Protection and Programs Directorate of the Department shall, on and after the date of the enactment of this subtitle, be known as the `Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’ (in this subtitle referred to as the `Agency’).” reads the bill.

“Today’s vote is a significant step to stand up a federal government cybersecurity agency,” said Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen. “The cyber threat landscape is constantly evolving, and we need to ensure we’re properly positioned to defend America’s infrastructure from threats digital and physical. It was time to reorganize and operationalize NPPD into the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. I thank Chairman Michael McCaul and Ranking Member Bennie Thompson for recognizing our critical role and both starting and completing this transformation in the House of Representatives. I also thank Chairman Ron Johnson and Ranking Member Claire McCaskill for their tireless support of the CISA Act in the Senate.”

The bill aims at securing federal networks and protecting critical infrastructure from cyber and physical threats.

“The CISA Act passing Congress represents real progress in the national effort to improve our collective efforts in cybersecurity,” said NPPD Under Secretary Christopher Krebs. “Elevating the cybersecurity mission within the Department of Homeland Security, streamlining our operations, and giving NPPD a name that reflects what it actually does will help better secure the nation’s critical infrastructure and cyber platforms. The changes will also improve the Department’s ability to engage with industry and government stakeholders and recruit top cybersecurity talent.”