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By LTC Steven Howard, U.S. Army (Ret.)
Contributor, InCyberDefense
On Tuesday, May 15, President Trump issued an executive order which closed the position of the nation’s top cybersecurity chief.
The order rearranges the federal information technology infrastructure and includes no details of a replacement for Rob Joyce, the former White House Cybersecurity Coordinator. Joyce left the position in April to return to the National Security Agency.
Democrats Introduce Legislation to Restore National Cybersecurity Coordinator Position
When it became clear that President Trump planned to eliminate the position, Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation to restore the position.
In a statement, Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., criticized the administration for “wreaking havoc on the National Security Council.”
In addition, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., Vice Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, stated: “We should be investing in our nation’s cyber defense, not rolling it back.”
It is unclear if legislation can force the President to appoint a position that advises him. After all, the President could simply not listen to advice from an appointee in a position that he had previously eliminated.
Many public and private organizations agree that the U.S. government consistently ranks among the worst in preparedness for a cyberattack.
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