Senators have proposed a bipartisan amendment that they plan to integrate with the fiscal year 2017 defense policy bill in an effort to make the U.S. Cyber Command as a unified combatant command within the Defense Department, Defense News reported Wednesday.
Joe Gould writes Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia) said he agrees with Navy Adm. Michael Rogers, Cybercom chief, that the proposed move will help the military force respond and defend against cyber threats in the 21st century.
Warner co-sponsored the amendment with Sens. Steve Daines (R-Montana); Cory Gardner (R-Colorado); Joni Ernst (R-Iowa); Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut); Michael Bennet (D-Colorado); Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Ben Cardin (D-Maryland); and Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland).
The House version of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act that passed the lower chamber last week contains a provision that would elevate Cybercom to a combatant command, according to Defense News.
