Congress OKs Bill to Create New Cyber Agency at DHS

A bill that would establish a cybersecurity agency within the Department of Homeland Security is now headed to the White House for President Donald Trump’s signature after Congress passed the measure.

The House on Tuesday unanimously approved the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act a month after the Senate passed the legislation, DHS said Tuesday.

“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,” said DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.

The CISA Act seeks to restructure the national protection and programs directorate at DHS to form a new agency that will focus on ensuring the security of physical and cyber infrastructure.

Christopher Krebs, undersecretary at NPPD, said the proposed restructuring under the bill would help the department advance collaboration with government and industry stakeholders and hire top cyber talent.